Westminster City Council is to become the first local authority in the UK to replace all its illuminated bollards with eco-friendly models in a drive to cut carbon emissions.
Following a successful trial run last year, the authority will replace up to 2,000 illuminated bollards in the heart of the capital with solar powered models from June 2008.
The council’s latest green initiative will help reduce the authority's carbon footprint by 210 tonnes a year - enough to power an estimated 200 homes over the same period.
With an estimated 37,000 bollards in the capital, if other councils followed suit this could have a huge impact in decreasing carbon dioxide emissions, with the potential to save almost 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
The £1 million scheme will save £132,000 on energy use and maintenance costs every year, meaning it would take less than eight years for the savings to pay for the project.
Director of Transportation, Martin Low, said:
“Most people think illuminated bollards are there just to make the streets safer but in fact they could also become another tool in our plans to tackle climate change.
"Small actions can make a big difference to the environment and this proposed initiative is one of many which make Westminster City Council a leading ‘green authority’.
"Westminster already has a raft of initiatives including our pioneering work providing on and off-street electric car charging points in the heart of the city, introducing SmartLights with remote monitoring and variable lighting levels, conserving green spaces and wildlife, and cutting water consumption by half in our parks."
During the day the panels absorb sunlight powering the LED units, which glow in the evenings - saving up to £132,000 on energy use and maintenance every year.
Westminster was the first borough in the capital to use a solar powered bollard prototype, with two in operation in Victoria Street and Great Western Road since November last year.
Other local authorities have since followed suit with their own solar bollard trials, but no council in the UK has as yet made a commitment to replace all their bollards to the eco friendly ones.
Solar powered bollards save money because they don't run on mains powered electricity and have reduced maintenance regimes, reducing carbon emissions.
Other schemes which could also benefit from the power of the sun are Westminster's swimming pools - with the council currently considering installing solar panels at Jubilee Sport Centre, Kilburn, to heat up its swimming pool.
If successful, three other indoor leisure centres in Westminster - Queen Mother Sports Centre, Porchester Spa and the Seymour Leisure Centre - could all follow suit.
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