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Siemens lights the way in Norfolk

A major programme to upgrade traffic lights at 78 junctions and 100 pedestrian crossings across Norfolk with new energy-saving LED signals from Siemens was set to finish this month. The retrofit project to supply, install and maintain all 178 sites is estimated to provide up to 78% power consumption and carbon savings for Norfolk County Council (NCC). The new contract includes an innovative cost benefit payback solution provided by Siemens Financial Services.
June 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A major programme to upgrade traffic lights at 78 junctions and 100 pedestrian crossings across Norfolk with new energy-saving LED signals from 1134 Siemens was set to finish this month.

The retrofit project to supply, install and maintain all 178 sites is estimated to provide up to 78% power consumption and carbon savings for Norfolk County Council (NCC). The new contract includes an innovative cost benefit payback solution provided by Siemens Financial Services.

According to NCC’s Graham Harbord, team manager for intelligent transport systems, all new traffic signal installations in Norfolk are equipped with Siemens Extra Low Voltage (ELV) controllers and the benefits extend beyond energy and carbon savings.

“Without the need to constantly replace lamps, maintenance costs are reduced and with no mains voltage on site every installation is safer,” said Harbord.

“Overall, Norfolk will achieve significant long-term savings, taking into account the traffic management costs to provide and install the ELV equipment, the power and carbon savings as well as the cost to finance the project.”

NCC worked alongside Siemens in identifying sites suitable for LED retrofit head replacement, the number of heads, the number and type of aspects and grouped the locations within the county so that a more efficient delivery programme could be created.

“This joined up approach will reduce the works period, reduces travel and therefore C02 emissions while delivering the project,” added Harbord.

Richard Brown, of Siemens Financial Services, said the finance facility offered to NCC made the project ‘self-financing’ and more affordable.

NCC was able to make a part contribution to invest in the project and looked to finance the rest. The scheme offered by Siemens Financial Services was scrutinised by the authority’s finance officers and was said to prove a viable option giving acceptable rates of return when taking into account the savings.

Siemens will provide NCC with a maintenance service as well as new scheme equipment through May Gurney as supply chain partners. The saving in maintenance costs will be realised through this partnership.

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