Indian cities aim to save energy with LEDs

Three cities in India are installing LED (light-emitting diode) lamps as part of a global effort to switch to better, more energy-efficient lighting.

Thane, Kolkata and Haldia have all joined The Climate Group’s global LED project and are working to replace existing streetlights with longer-lasting, high-efficiency LEDs. Kolkata expects to install 273 LED streetlights as part of a pilot program, while Haldia plans to put up 290 LED lamps and Thane is aiming for 314 retrofits.

In addition to the cities working with The Climate Group, other Indian communities are also working to promote the adoption of cleaner, more efficient lighting. Working with India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Delhi aims to distribute 2.18 million compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to households with the expectation that it could reduce peak energy loads by 100 megawatts.

The CFL program is part of the national Bachat Lamp Yojana project launched by the Indian government in 2009.