Public lighting becoming more sustainable

More than 6,000 units that provide sustainable public lighting have been installed across the capital, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City announced in a statement on Wednesday. The installed lights conform to sustainability standards specified in Abu Dhabi emirate’s Sustainable Public Lighting Strategy. “The application of this lighting strategy will reduce total lighting costs by as much as 40 per cent over the next 20 years,” said Abdullah Al Shamsi, acting executive director of infrastructure and municipal assets at the municipality. “In addition, the lights will reduce power usage by 60 per cent, and cut carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 75 per cent [compared to the previously used lighting system],” he added. A plan to gradually dim street lights by up to 50 per cent is also expected to add to the environmental benefits from the new sustainable lighting strategy. This year, sustainability in the public lighting strategy was decreed by the Department of Municipal Affairs, which oversees the municipality, along with Al Ain Municipality and the Western Region Municipality. A workshop was also recently conducted by the municipalities to discuss the strategy’s implementation in the emirate.