Dimmer switches to be added to street lights to save energy

A council has signed a ￡225million deal which will save on carbon emissions and cut energy bills by 15 per cent.

The lights will be dimmed by 25 per cent between midnight and 5am.

A central control room will be able to detect faults as well as turn the lights on, off and down.


Old-style ‘orange’ sodium lamps will be replaced with fluorescent white ones in residential areas to improve security and give a more ‘natural’ light.


Light pollution will also be reduced because the new lamps focus downwards.


Hampshire County Council has signed the deal with Southern Electric Contracting, which will install and maintain the lights over the next 25 years.


The energy saved is the equivalent of powering 1,500 homes for a year.

‘It will make streets and town centres safer for everyone,’ said environment councillor Mel Kendal.