Sunday, 9th November 2008
Lighting on little-used roads to be switched off
9% projected reduction in energy usage by 2016.
Selected roads will remain in darkness at night as part of a government national energy efficiency drive.
Resources Minister George Pullicino told a news conference yesterday that retroreflective safety devices, like cat's eyes, would be sufficient to ensure safety on little-used roads.
The energy plan aims to reduce overall energy consumption by nine per cent over the next eight years.
Plans also include a certification system for installers of photovoltaic panels and solar heaters to ensure the equipment is properly installed.
Meanwhile, petrol stations are being encouraged to give motorists simple energy-saving advice while the Malta Transport Authority and Enemalta are reviewing street lighting to eliminate waste.
Mr Pullicino said the use of energy-efficient domestic appliances and solar heaters is expected to save the country up to 26 gigawatt hours a year by 2010 - equivalent to more than the total energy used by 2,000 families in a year.
A pilot project to install smart meters, which read electricity and water consumption, will be launched in March, during which households will be offered an audit to help them conserve energy.
Enemalta chairman Alex Tranter said the meters would be installed in 2,500 households.
Explaining the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, Malta Resources Authority chief executive Antoine Riolo said that while legislation was important, it was crucial to bring about a change in people's behaviour.
This shift in behaviour was already taking place, the minister said. In fact, the sale of energy-efficient refrigerators and air conditioners had more than doubled between 2006 and last year thanks to rebates on appliances which encouraged people to go for more eco-friendly devices.
The scheme, which allowed consumers to request a 20 per cent discount to a maximum of €116.47 on the purchase of energy-efficient domestic appliances, was launched in November 2006 and the government has received some 45,000 applications.
"These figures are evidence of people's attitude shift," Mr Pullicino said.
However, the government has since withdrawn the incentive scheme - a move which has attracted widespread criticism.
Mr Pullicino said energy-saving measures had also been adopted by the Water Services Corporation, which used 4.6 per cent of electricity produced last year for the desalination of seawater - down from 11.1 per cent 10 years ago.
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Comments
LOL...you compare a simple secondary country road to Las Vegas! Hahahaaa...
Well done 2 the Govt's decision...too much precious energy is currently being wasted. And, Yes, car headlights do suffice in these roads, unless one is not driving under the influence.
Most probably those saying its dangerous have never driven abroad.
At least those interested in astronomy will get a better chance of carrying out their hobby without light pollution.
Is it not possible to have sensors in the lights of the secondary roads so that after a certain time of night these lights switch on again when they sense some form of movement? Has any body ever studied the effect of street lighting in Malta, including the distance between lights, and the distance of the lights from the ground? Some foreign studies indicate that dark patches could be the source of some of the road accidents occurring in such places. Enemalta needs to examine carefully the cost of human lives against the benefit of saving energy.
We could save a bit more of the energy for water generation if the authorities put a genuine effort to harvest rain water. On the subject of alternate energy sources may I suggest that the power consumption of all government’s office and other building will be derived, as much as possible, from alternate power systems. This should also apply to all open air public places, telephone kiosks and street lighting.
Less frequented roads might not require the same luminosity as major thoroughfare but on the other hand a total blackout will be irresponsible since this could lead to accidents especially during the wintermonths. It would be much better to exploit solar energy panels to light such roads!
Another thing I always wonder about is Enemalta itself. Have you ever had anything to do with Enemalta - ie. a new electricity connection or meter installed. They come with a van with up to 6 persons and everybody seems to have just a small job to do. There is one guy who only carries things, there is one guy in charge of the equippment, another one does all the climbing and dangerous things, another one is the driver, then the foreman and the guy in charge and last but not least another one - just in case you need an extra pair of hands.
I want to bet that with a bit better management and organization 20 % of costs could be saved without increasing the burden on the consumer. It would be interesting to know how many people work at Enemalta and how this figure compares to other countries.
Now these same people are trying to tell us that it is not right to manifest and or protest.
I wonder which streets shall fall under this 'Charles Dickens' world.
Street lights are not for motorists only, pedestrians exist to.
I think that this is going to be a long period entitled 'Back to the seventies'.
Would this encourage criminality? I wonder.
And I wonder who was the genius behind this all!