London turns 3,500 traffic lights "green"

Traffic lights at 300 junctions across London are to be made permanently " green" after the mayor yesterday announced plans to install energy-saving LEDs at 3,500 traffic lights.

Boris Johnson said Transport for London (TfL) will install more than 10,000 LEDs, each of which is expected to cut energy use and carbon emissions by 60 per cent compared to existing bulbs.

The £2.4m project is expected to cut total annual carbon emissions by 600 tonnes, reducing TfL's energy bill by about £200,000 in the process.

"I've seen the future and it comprises these tip-top, energy-busting traffic lights," said Johnson. "Installing these eco-bulbs will cut the climate change emissions coming from London's galaxy of traffic lights by more than half, as well as save money from energy bills."

He added that he intended to accelerate the rollout of LEDs in other applications, noting that they were already being used on roadside ticket machines and bus shelters and could play a major role in cutting emissions across the capital.

TfL has now launched a tender process to identify a supplier for the new traffic lights, the application period for which closes next week.

Alan Bristow, director of traffic operations at TfL, said that as well as helping to cut energy bills, LEDs lasted about 10 times longer than standard bulbs and as a result could help reduce maintenance costs. He added that the company was exploring other new lighting technologies "including more efficient Tube station and tunnel lighting".

The announcement further underlines the growing demand for LED lighting, which supporters claim can deliver better light and deeper cuts in carbon emissions than conventional energy-saving bulbs, while also avoiding some of the disposal issues associated with the mercury found in compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).

Last week, US-based Cree, one of the global leaders in the LED market, saw its share price leap eight per cent after reporting annual results showing sales exceeded expectations, rising 15 per cent year on year to $567.3m (£344m).