Capital seeks illumination from eco-friendly street lights

SCOTLAND'S first trial of energy-saving LED street lights will be launched tonight when a batch of retro-style lamps are switched on in Princes Street in Edinburgh.

The new streetlights at Princes Mall will produce a brighter, whiter light than standard street lighting, showcasing the imposing backdrop of the Old Town and the Balmoral Hotel in the heart of the World Heritage Site.

LED (Light Emitting Diaode) street lamps have a number of advantages over conventional lighting, including reducing energy consumption by about 50 per cent and boasting a seven-year life span.

At 400-800 each they are half the cost of traditional street lights and are less prone to vandalism, cutting maintenance and replacement costs.

The initiative is being promoted by Dialight, which makes LED street lights and is paying the full costs of the trial.

Dialight marketing consultant Ash Gupta said: "Most cities are cautious about adopting new technology but when we approached Phil Wheeler, the then transport convener, we got a very enthusiastic response."

Working with Edinburgh World Heritage Trust and Lothian and Borders Police, the council identified Princes Mall as an ideal location for the trial.

"The new LED street lights will be trialled for at least a year and will cut both the city's carbon footprint and energy use," Mr Gupta said.

"From a visual point of view there is no "light spill" or light pollution, meaning you will get a much better quality of light and a view of the stars. But some people who are used to light spill may find they have to get used to it."

Mr Gupta said it was possible to programme in "smart" controls, such as proximity sensors to let the light come on instantly when a person or vehicle approached.

City of Edinburgh Council transport convener Gordon Mackenzie said: "In today's economic environment it is paramount for city managers to seek out smart, cost-effective technologies that make our cities more sustainable.

"Lighting is the dramatic catalyst for a sensitive civic townscape, so we are keen to evaluate the maintenance savings, reduction benefits and performance improvements that LED lighting promises to offer."

Neil Baxter, secretary and treasurer of Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, said: "There's no question that wherever this type of lighting has been introduced in other parts of the world it benefits the public."