Work has started on replacing over 17,500 electricity bulbs in Moray as part of a massive cost-saving exercise.
Almost every street light in the region will be replaced with longer-lasting LED units during the £5.5m project.
It has been forecast the scheme will cut the council’s electric bill by £20million over the next 20 years, in addition to reducing carbon emissions by 2000 tonnes.
Rural areas, Cummingston and Nether and Upper Dallachy, were the first to be illuminated by the new technology in trials.
It is expected that it will take about five years for council staff to replace all the bulbs.
Roads maintenance manager Mark Atherton said: “Most existing street lights emit what we call orange light from bulbs that are expensive to run, in terms of electricity consumption.
“Not only that, manufacturers are gradually stopping making them, so spare parts are harder to come by and the lights become more costly to maintain.”
LED bulbs will also cut down on light pollution to ensure Moray enjoys even more spectacular views of the night sky.
Council leader Stewart Cree added: “This is a classic example of investing money now to save even more money in the longer term.”
Moray Council to replace nearly every street light in region in massive £5.5million project over five years
