Over 18,000 lights have undergone LED upgrades on Cork city's roads and housing estates, resulting in a significant energy saving.

The city has benefitted from a 70% energy saving per lantern and an overall energy reduction of 30% courtesy of a close working relationship between Cork City Council's public lighting crews and its public lighting maintenance contractor, Electric Skyline.

An estimated 2,000 LED lanterns are still to be upgraded, which will lead to improved public space and safety. The aim of the LED upgrade programme is to provide consistent public lighting design, maximise energy savings, reduce CO2 emissions and enhance efficiency across the network by replacing traditional sodium lamp lanterns with more energy efficient LED lanterns.

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Significantly, the public lighting upgrade, which began in 2021, has resulted in a CO2 reduction of 360.56CO2t.

Last year, Cork City Council began an ambitious 10-year plan to renew its 25,500 public lighting assets, including ongoing LED installation and the replacement of 11,500 lighting columns in housing estates, primary and secondary public roads.

This project will require significant once in a generation funding to allow Cork City Council to fully replace life expired assets to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted public lighting network.

Aidan Mahony, Senior Executive Engineer of the ITS Section, said: "Essential works are urgently required to ensure that degraded assets are replaced to ensure residential estates remain fit for purpose for future generations of the city.

"This will require financial resources, the understanding of residents, the support of stakeholders/contractors and a significant resource from ESB Networks to deliver the plan successfully."

Members of the public can report a faulty light lantern by visiting Deadsure.com/Cork City Council