London traffic lights turn green

Energy saving LEDs are to replace inefficient lightbulbs in 3,500 London traffic lights, saving £200,000 per year in fuel bills. Transport for London (TfL) is to install the LEDs at around 300 junctions in the capital, at a cost of £2.4m. The LEDs will cut energy consumption by about 60%. As well as the savings associated with the move itself, City Hall hopes the investment will help stimulate the development of LED traffic signals and encourage more companies to enter the market. The initiative follows the introduction of LED lighting at all London Buses roadside ticket machines and LED lighting at 3,500 solar powered bus stops and 640 shelters. If LED lights were installed in all of London's 6,000 junctions which have traffic signals, CO2 emissions could be reduced by around 12,000 tonnes a year. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "I've seen the future and it comprises these tip top energy busting traffic lights. "Installing these eco-bulbs will cut the climate change emissions coming from London's galaxy of traffic lights by over half as well as save money from energy bills. "We are pressing ahead to get many more of these illuminating orbs on to our streets to join a range of other energy zapping measures already saving us money such as solar powered bus stops and shelters." Sam Bond