The municipality of Wettenberg has had the lighting on several streets in the Wißmar district converted to LED technology by Stadtwerke Gießen. A modernisation that offers the municipality and its citizens several advantages.
New lights now illuminate several streets in Wettenberg-Wißmar. Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) has replaced 55 outdated sodium vapour lamps with modern LED technology. On Monday, 25 November, Wettenberg's mayor Thomas Brunner, the municipality's environmental officer Michael Krick, Thomas Rabenau, deputy head of the Energy & Water Networks department and head of the Planning group at SWG, and SWG lighting expert Stefan Holl inaugurated the new light points.
"Environmental and climate protection have a long tradition in our municipality. We want to continue along this path consistently and this also includes retrofitting older street lights," explained Thomas Brunner. The new LED lights consume around 70 per cent less electricity than their ageing counterparts. "The eleven modernised light points in Magdeburger Straße here in Wißmar alone save around 2,400 kilowatt hours of electrical energy per year, which is almost equivalent to the consumption of a two-person household," Thomas Rabenau calculated. All 55 refurbished lights together reduce consumption by 13,000 kWh per year.
LessCO2, lower costs
Due to their high efficiency, the LED lights have a positive effect on theCO2 balance in Wettenberg and reduce the municipality's energy costs. "The investment costs are amortised within just a few years, leaving more money for other tasks," emphasised Michael Krick.
According to Stefan Holl, many municipalities in the district are convinced of these benefits and are planning to modernise their street lighting.
SWG has already modernised over 100 light points in Giessen and Pohlheim. "The response has been very positive, and not just from the local authorities," Thomas Rabenau assures us. Drivers, residents and walkers also benefit from the LED technology. Compared to mercury and sodium vapour lamps, it enables significantly better colour rendering. "What is red also appears red in the warm white light. In addition, streets and squares can be illuminated more precisely and without a scattering effect, so that no more brightness falls into living room or bedroom windows," explained Stefan Holl.
The people of Wettenberg will initially be able to see all the benefits for themselves around Magdeburger Strasse. Other areas in the municipality are to follow in the coming years. "The next retrofits are already on the agenda for 2014," announced Thomas Brunner.