A government fund of £30m aimed at reducing carbon footprints and reducing public spending in the highways sector has awarded the East Yorkshire council £3.3m as a share.
This is one of seven schemes in the country to receive cash awards.
In an innovative project, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council will research and implement measures to decarbonise streetlights and introduce brighter road signs, road markings, and cat’s eyes.
The council’s scheme will cost a total of £4.6m – the Government cash plus £1.3m match-funding from the council.
Currently, the UKs 7.2m street lights cost £3.5billion a year – including £1billlon in energy costs.
Each year, they emit one million tonnes of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change’s harmful effects.
The council plans to conduct studies into the way roads are lit in the UK, and then use the data it gathers to work with other councils across the country to create a new standard for street lighting.
Two of the East Riding’s busiest roads, the A1079 Hull to York corridor and the A164, will be tested.
Ten other councils in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have partnered with the council for the pilot scheme.
To discover new, innovative and alternative lighting products, the company has already teamed up with Sheffield University, the Institute of Lighting Professionals and lighting companies.
In this scheme, street lights, road signs, and road markings will be used in a more efficient manner.
Councillor Jonathan Owen, leader of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“This work is not only massively innovative – it will be the only such work of its kind in the UK – so the East Riding is leading the way.
“This will be the country’s first-ever major review of street lighting, and how people perceive and appreciate different types of lights and differing levels.
“Britain’s current road signs regulations were brought in in the 1960s, so it is high time they were reviewed and improved.
“Through this pilot scheme, we want to achieve major change and massively reduce energy consumption, and by doing that develop new guidelines to be adopted by local authorities nationally.”
There are 40,000 streetlights and 2,300 illuminated signs in the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Currently, 75% of the lighting has been converted to LEDs which consume less energy.
Electricity costs the council £1.84 million and column maintenance costs £850,000 each year.
