The Hindu                       12.04.2013

Energy-efficient LED bulbs to replace street lights

Salem Corporation keen to cut expenses.

With power crisis crippling day-to-day activities of the people and functioning of industries, the City Municipal Corporation is all set to replace 16,840 street lights with light emitting diode (LED) bulbs that would boost energy efficiency.

The move would replace the conventional fluorescent lamps and save lakhs of rupees for the civic body as it had spent Rs. 1 crore for maintenance of street lights last year.

Officials said that there are 19,193 fluorescent lamps, 8,004 sodium lamps, 259 lamps, 941 D5 lights, 95 solar lamps, 12 high mast lights and 54 other lights.

Lights

Thus there are 28,558 lights in the Corporation lights category. Under the Integrated Urban Development Mission (IUDM) 2012-13, a sum of Rs. 1 crore had been allotted and tenders have been called for, to implement the energy efficient project.

Officials said that once 16,840 lights were replaced, the civic body can save a portion of the huge electricity bill and maintenance cost.

“Energy-efficient bulbs are the need of the hour,” officials added.

They said that due to power outage many high capacity bulbs were unusable and the move would reduce damage to bulbs.

“Solar Energy Street lights would also be installed in future,” they added.

Civic body in Salem spent Rs. 1 crore for maintenance of street lights in city last year.