Pilot lighting project being rolled out in west Mayo town

A PILOT lighting project - the first of its kind in Ireland - is being rolled out in Newport.

It is part of an energy master plan for the town, which was launched last week, with lighting being specifically addressed as Newport is part of the Mayo Dark Skies area.

The results of an energy reduction lighting study have revealed that 41% of the local authority's energy use goes on public street lighting. The spend in Mayo last year was €1.2 million.

Now, a public lighting energy efficiency programme is being rolled out, Mayo County Council climate action officer Laura Dixon explained at a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting.

It will involve a change over to LED lighting, and the dimming of profiles from 100% to 75% after midnight.

Lighting on Newport's iconic viaduct, the church and shopfronts are part of the project.

At the church, lighting will be changed so it's not as wasteful as it has been – reducing energy use there by over 40%.

Lighting at the viaduct has been 'scattered' up into the air and there is a submission with the Heritage Council to change that.

One of the local businesses, Hotel Newport, was using uplighting, which was considered wasteful. That has now been turned to down lights.

The pilot project would see lights dimmed to different levels in the town.

Councillor Peter Flynn said he had not realised that 41% of the council energy bill went on public lighting. Now they had an opportunity to reduce costs by applying this across the county, and contributing to biodiversity and reducing carbon.

Much of our wildlife, he noted, don't know the difference between night and day because of excessive lighting.

Ms. Dixon said the council has gone to tender for the transfer to LED, which would result in a 70% energy saving.