Zaventem (Brussels Morning newspaper) – Zaventem upgraded 70% of street lights to LED, saving €400K and cutting CO, by 50%. Aldermen Driesen and Dewandeleer emphasize safety.
The municipality of Zaventem has made big improvements in energy efficiency by replacing 70 percent of its street lights with LED lamps. Alderman for Public Domain and Climate Wim Driesen from Open VLD says that moving to LED technology is important for updating the town’s infrastructure and lowering energy use.
With this upgrade, Zaventem has saved money on energy while also reducing its carbon footprint. In addition to switching to LED lights, the town has also turned off some streetlights temporarily to save even more energy, which has helped keep public lighting costs low
How has Zaventem’s switch to LED street lights impacted costs and community safety?
The financial benefits of these actions are clear. Alderman for Finance Bart Dewandeleer from the CD&V team mentioned that without turning off some lights, the town would have faced an extra €400,000 in costs. These steps have helped Zaventem save money and also led to a 50 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Aderman stated that the combination of installing LED lights and temporarily shutting down some lights shows the town’s commitment to being environmentally friendly while being careful with money. This trend is seen across Belgium, where other towns and the Flemish government are also switching to LED lighting for similar energy and cost savings.
“If we had not turned off the street lighting during the energy crisis, it would have cost us 400,000 euros more”
Bart Dewandeleer, Alderman for Finance (CD&V team Bart)
In Zaventem, Belgium, the town council has decided to turn the street lights back on. This comes after they installed LED lamps in 70% of the streetlights. The council made a promise to restore full lighting once this goal was met. Alderman Wim Driesen from the Open VLD party said this is a good step for the residents. Some people have been worried about safety in the dark streets. They feel uneasy, even though crime has not increased.
The council wants to improve safety by bringing back the street lighting. Better lighting can help stop crime because it makes it easier to see people. It also helps residents feel safer. Studies show that well-lit areas can make people want to spend more time outside.
“Some residents also feel unsafe in the dark streets, although no increase in crime was recorded. With the new lighting, we want to eliminate this feeling of insecurity.”
(Aldermen)
How will Zaventem’s street light dimming improve energy use?
In Zaventem, the plan is to gradually dim the streetlights in the evenings starting at the end of March 2025. As night falls, the lights will slowly become dimmer. After about four hours, the lights will begin to brighten again. By around 6 am, they will reach their full strength. It has been said that this method helps save energy and creates a more comfortable atmosphere for residents during the night.
