The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has installed energy efficient streetlights along the Timehri Highway at a cost of $2.1m, a release from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) said yesterday.
The project saw GEA replacing 37 high pressure sodium vapour street lamps with energy efficient induction lamps between Bounty Farm and the Timehri Police Outpost. The replaced lamps were rated at 250 watts each while the new lamps are rated at 120 watts each. The new lamps also come equipped with a timer control relay to switch the lamps off during the day.
The MPI release quoted Timehri resident, Aktar Shaw as saying, “These lamps [induction street lamps] are better than the red ones [HPSV lamps]. I feel safer with this one; I no longer worry about my vehicle which I park on the bridge. The red ones were not as effective.”
Another resident, Angelina Richmond, said, according to the press release, that “the energy saving lights are far better. It allows you to see better and you feel safer, especially when going to church and returning home at nights. The brightness allows the children to play in the yard on weekends after the sun goes down.”
Nalini Sukhal, a vendor operating along the highway, voiced thanks for the new lights. “I come out at 3 PM and sell up to 7 PM so it gives me a sense of security. This one is much brighter than the red one. It is very good for my business.”
Mr. A. Khan, the manager of Khan’s Sawmill, expressed similar sentiments, the release said. “These white lights are far better than the previous ones which were red. I feel far more secure with this one.”
The release said that the energy efficient lights will pay for themselves in about 1.09 years.
