In recent years we have initiated a countywide programme of replacing the conventional sodium lanterns with the latest generation of LED luminaires, which are significantly more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

These LED lanterns are expected to work reliably for twenty years or more without the need for any intermediate lamp changes and therefore savings in routine maintenance and bulk lamp changes will be considerable going forward. In April 2022 we embarked on an accelerated roll out programme with a target to convert all the remaining non-LED streetlights to LED by Autumn 2023, in order to maximise the energy and carbon savings as quickly as possible. The programme was completed in August 2023.

As part of the LED conversion programme, we are at the forefront of introducing LED lanterns with less blue light content to help reduce the impact on the ecology and the environment. Many amber and smaller numbers of red LED lanterns are being fitted at locations where our Ecology Teams have identified important and rare species of bat and other light averse ecology that will be more tolerant of these reduced blue light content light sources.

Guidance Note 08 /18, published jointly by the Bat Conservation Trust and the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), advocates the use of LED luminaires with a warm white, amber or red spectrum to minimize the “blue light” component of LED light which is the most disruptive to bat’s behaviour. This policy of mitigation is being followed by Worcestershire County Council in the continuing LED roll-out initiative throughout the County. 

Worcestershire County Council have also started to specify aluminium columns for new developments and major project work as a sustainability measure. Aluminium columns have a design life of 50 years which is significantly longer than traditional steel columns.