The Chennai Corporation proposes to replace sodium vapour lamps used for street illumination with LED (light-emitting diode) lamps. It is studying the feasibility and a decision is likely in two months.
Officials of the civic body said various models of 40 watt LED lamps, to replace the 70 watt sodium vapour lamps, and the cost factor were being evaluated.
The LED lamps would be fitted on interior roads and in slums, where a major share of streetlights had been installed.
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The move is part of the energy saving measures. Of the nearly 1.32 lakh streetlights in the city, about 80,000 are on interior roads and slums.
About 50 per cent of the energy consumption is expected to be saved by switching over to LED lamps. Arterial roads would be covered later depending on the success of the project.
The Corporation had recently fitted 20 induction lamps costing Rs.1.50 lakh on Subbarao Avenue in Nungambakkam on a trial basis. The civic body aims to achieve 30 per cent energy savings and limit the monthly electricity bills for streetlights up to Rs.1.35 crore.
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At present, the electricity bill for streetlights is Rs.1.50 crore. About 60 energy savers have been installed on arterial roads such as Poonamallee High Road and Anna Salai. The expenditure on electricity has come down by nearly Rs.7.33 lakh on account of the energy savers in the past nine months.
Similarly, 600 tubelights of 40 watt capacity, in various offices of the civic body, have been replaced with 36-watt tubelights and 945 incandescent lights have been replaced with CFLs (compact fluorescent lamp), resulting in a saving of Rs.3 lakh in the past nine months.