KORE case studies offer an inside look at how our services perform in real-world applications. This LED lighting upgrade was part of the Streetlight LED Retrofit Scheme delivered by SSE Airtricity Utility Solutions for Cavan County Council, project managed by KORE Retrofit.

Journey to a Greener Future

Since 2016, Cavan County Council began upgrading street lights to greener, more energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) technology delivered by SSE Airtricity Utility Solutions as part of their ongoing Streetlight LED Retrofit Scheme.

The primary aim of the project is to enable the Local Authority to reach their statutory energy efficiency target as set out by the government’s climate and energy framework agreements.

A Long-Term Motivation

Cavan County Council aims to be 50% more energy efficient by 2030.

The LED project will enable the council to reduce its costs significantly over the next 25 years through energy and maintenance savings.

It will also contribute to their carbon reduction goals as a county and nation.

Case Study Details

Project Name: Streetlight LED Retrofit, Cavan County Council

Funding: Primarily with council funding for local roads, and transport infrastructure Ireland funding on national roads. SEAI Better Energy Community Scheme grant enabled them to receive a 30% grant in 2019 and 2020. 

Measures & Savings:

• 62% of lights upgraded.

• 12,000 kWh energy saved per year.

• €25,000 euros saved per year.

Benefits of this upgrade project:

• LEDs are much more efficient and use much less electricity than other lamps or bulbs for similar output, reducing energy costs.

• Maintenance costs and energy costs dramatically decrease.

• Possible regional maintenance contracts for the local community.

• Have extremely long lives compared to traditional lights, around 20 years.

• Produce very little heat.

• Produce much fewer carbon emissions through energy generation.

• Contain no mercury.

• Can operate effectively in both cold and hot environments.

• Produce a white light to enable the human eye to see natural colours at night.

• Are much more directional than other lights, reducing ‘sky glow’ and glare.

• LEDs are instantaneous and function at full output when switched on.

• No warm-up times as with most street lighting.

• They can be dimmed at off-peak times.

• They provide improved uniformity of light.

• Variation in colour temperatures are available for specific applications.

• Improved visibility, decreasing the number and severity of road accidents at night.

• Creates a safer environment for the community.

• Less light pollution, more environmentally friendly.

Plans for the Future

Cavan County Council is part of the National Retrofit Programme with the road management office, and over the next two-three years, will upgrade all remaining lights to LED.

Sox & Son lights are going out of production, and these will be the first to be replaced, with continual maintenance of the PL inventory.

Estimation of projected savings for the future would be €45,000 annually, which would be around 24,000 kWh energy savings approximately.