LAKE Macquarie City Council has become the first Australian local government authority to use low-energy LED (light emitting diode) lighting around its administration building.
Twelve LED floodlights were installed at its Speers Point headquarters this week.
The 150-watt LEDs produce equivalent light to the 400 lights they replaced.
It is estimated each LED light will use $30 worth of power a year compared with $96 for a regular globe.
The program will also save 13.26 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.
"Given that each LED light has a 50,000-hour lifespan compared to 8000 hours for a normal 400-watt globe, council can expect both financial and greenhouse gas savings," the council's environmental officer Rodney Ingersoll said.
Redhead-based lighting specialist Jason Buckingham designed and built the LED lights to fit within the existing housings.
"LEDs are being increasingly used in general lighting applications such as traffic lights and car tail lights," Mr Ingersoll said.
"In view of their excellent energy efficiency they will supplement and replace more traditional light sources over the coming years."
The council is working to reduce its carbon footprint by 3 per cent a year.
The LED lighting project was completed with help from the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
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