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Rome Turns to Cost-saving LED Lighting, Some Residents Unhappy | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A street in downtown Rome on July 1, 2012. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini


Rome – Rome is investing millions of euros in environmentally friendly, cost-saving LED street-lighting, but some residents of the Eternal City are unhappy to lose the softer, golden glow of the old sodium lamps.

Monica Larner, an American who lives in Rome’s historic center, said she was shocked to find the old bulbs replaced in her neighborhood overnight, with no prior notice to residents.

“This LED light is really bright, really blue, it feels like a hospital light,” said Larner.

The city’s electricity company Acea says the new lighting, which should be fully installed by the summer, will improve visibility and safety as well as saving money.

With an investment of about 50 million euros ($53.33 million) the town hall, run by the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, will save 260 million euros over the next 10 years, said the head of Acea’s public lighting department to Reuters.

Over the same period it will cut carbon dioxide production by 350,000 tonnes and reduce petrol consumption by 180,000 tonnes, Fioroni added.