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Greenwich celebrates a 'green' Christmas

 
By switching to low-energy festive lights in 2007, Greenwich Council hopes to follow the lead of Santa, who uses low-carbon sleighs to transport presents.

Energy-efficient bulbs

Low-energy light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are replacing conventional tungsten "golfball" bulbs in the borough's 2007 festive lights. This will make seasonal lighting 85 per cent more energy-efficient than in 2005, when the energy saving programme started.

Some of the areas using the LED bulbs include:

  • Diwali lights on Plumstead High Street
  • Eltham Christmas lights
  • Woolwich town centre lights

Longer life

As well as using 85% less energy, the LED bulbs have approximately 50 times longer service life, which helps cut maintenance costs. The Council plans to extend the greener technology to seasonal lighting in the remaining parts of the borough over the next few years.

Setting an example

Cllr Rajwant Sidhu, Greenwich Council’s cabinet member for Greener Greenwich, said, "Local councils have a responsibility to ensure that we reduce the impact on the environment from all our activities, and this includes Christmas lighting.

"As well as having a direct impact in reducing the level of gases that contribute to climate change, I hope that the Council’s example – through this and other initiatives - will inspire businesses and householders in the borough to make the switch to more energy-efficient technology."

Other energy projects

Other measures introduced this year by the Council to improve energy efficiency in its activities include:

  • pedestrian refuges powered with carbon-free solar panels
  • street lights and footpath lighting powered by mini wind turbines
  • a programme of continuing to expand the proportion of electricity that the Council purchases from low-carbon sources.

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