We have recently completed a major project to replace the lighting in all our surface and multi-storey car parks to low energy lighting, helping to reduce our carbon emissions as well as our energy bills.
The work started in 2023 when we started replacing the lights in our multi storey car parks in Horsham with low energy LED lighting. These car parks included Horsham’s Swan Walk, Piries Place and The Forum.
This comprehensive project had to be completed in stages but, to give you an idea of the scale of this; just replacing the first 387 lights in Swan Walk car park reduced our carbon emissions by almost 19,000kg a year, as well as saving almost £11k in energy bills.
Since then, we have extended this programme of works to include changing the lights in all our Council owned car parks across the District.
This project is now completed and includes car parks in:
Billingshurst, Bolney, Cowfold, Henfield, Horsham, Partridge Green, Pulborough, Roffey, Southwater, Storrington, Upper Beeding, and Warnham.
By replacing hundreds of these bulbs and fittings we have now reduced our power consumption, and so carbon emissions, from our car parks over the last three years by over 40%. This is the equivalent of approximately 111 return flights from Gatwick to Rome and back, or driving from Horsham to Edinburgh and back 583 times!
Horsham Park Heritage Lighting
One special project was in Horsham Park: Here we had 50 Heritage Windsor Lanterns to change to LED lightbulbs, including making sure that we maintained a good colour match of the LED light to maintain the ambience of the lighting across the Park.
This all contributes to our aspiration for the Council’s direct emission to become net zero by 2030.
Read our 2025-2030 Carbon Reduction Plan
Saving energy and bills in your own home
Did you know that lighting accounts for some 15% of energy consumption in the average UK home? Reviewing your home lighting and making small, inexpensive changes can help to reduce your carbon emissions and your energy bills.
The Energy Saving Trust has a good overview of home lighting options and things to consider when changing light fittings and bulbs. This includes understanding the different types of lightbulbs; how to replace your light fitting with integrated LED lighting, what’s the most energy efficient light bulb, as well as ideas on how else you can reduce your bills.
The Trust also offers excellent advice beyond just lighting, offering energy saving tips from a simple change in how we use their appliances to buying an advanced, renewable energy, helping to reduce fuel poverty, lower fuel bills and create healthier homes.