Moray Council hails success of 17,500 new LED street lights
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Moray Council says it expects to complete upgrading the region's street lighting at almost £1million under budget.
The work, which includes replacing17,500 lanterns with LED versions, began in 2015.
It was projected to take five years and cost £5 million.
Due to the pandemic the work is still only 95% complete.
However, it is due to be finished this year at an estimated cost of £4.118million – a saving of £882,000.
Less energy is also being used thanks to the new LED lights.
Consumption has so far dropped by two-thirds.
This amounts to a reduction in the council's carbon footprint of more than 5000 tonnes of CO² to date, with further falls of 954 tonnes likely each year.
Council leader Graham Leadbitter (Elgin South, SNP), said: "Taking advantage of the advances in technology, as well as grant funding opportunities, has made this spend-to-save project a particular success.
"The bulk of the work was completed by our in-house team.
"All credit to them for seeing this project through to its conclusion.
"The energy cost savings, carbon footprint reduction and contribution this project has made to part of the area receiving Dark Sky status is a real success story for Moray."
