Smart lighting solution for capital

The National Capital Authority (NCA) will upgrade lighting along Canberra’s ANZAC Parade, a move it says will bring lights into the 21st century and reduce running costs.

The existing 116-fitting scheme was installed in 2000 to link the national memorials and to provide a suitable setting for Canberra’s ANZAC Day celebrations.

NCA Chief Executive Malcolm Snow said the original light sources had a life span of 15 years, so it’s time to replace the WWI-inspired helmet-shaped fittings.

“We have had exceptional value for money from these light fittings and we were looking for an innovative lighting and electronics solution that incorporated the latest technology,” Snow said.

“Gerard Lighting was the original designer of the lights and they have come up with a clever solution that will reduce power consumption by 43%,” Snow said. 

Gerard Lighting Senior Solutions Engineer Guy Hatton-Ward said the lights had plasma bulbs that were very common in their day, but they are old technology and no longer manufactured.

“What we’ve done is design an LED lighting and electronics system that allows the NCA to monitor and control each light via computer; it will even allow the NCA to dim the lights in the early hours of the morning to further reduce running costs,” Hatton-Ward said. 

The replacement program began late last year and will finish in April 2017, in time for ANZAC Day celebrations.