Recently, Zimbabwe was focused on a new plan: gradually introduce LED street lighting technology all over the country in next two decades. On 5th July 2012, Mr. Cllr Amen Mpofu, the Vice Mayor of Harare, announced that landscape lamps on main streets will be replaced by advanced LED lighting technology during 2012. In his words, this will be a new milestone for the capital city and even for Zimbabwe. Mr. Cllr Amen Mpofu also indicated that this project will be spread through the entire country and the estimated energy saving will be approximately 80%. “LED is the most advanced lighting technology at the moment. Our scientists have made a complete set of tests and proved that it really save a large amount of energy compare with other traditional lights, even sodium lamps and halide lamps. We can save a lot of money by installing LED street lights. We decided to put this money into public issues to enhance the government facilities to serve our people better. ”
In a later interview, Mr. Mpofu introduced the main steps of this project and discussed about the social economic benefit and environmental benefit brought by it. As mentioned before, the implement of this place will save nearly 80% electrical energy. According to a recent poll in Zimbabwe, more than 80% residents expressed their support for this project. “It went beyond my expectation, I thought previously less than 50% citizens would agree with this plan. But the results came out so good. It suggested that our environmental protection consciousness has been strengthened. ”
Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust published a research report at the end of last month, giving out a series of experiment results and conclusions. In this report experts estimated that if LED street lighting technology were be used all over the country, the Zimbabwe Government would save 1.8 million dollars per year in electrical costs and maintenance costs. This was a conservative estimate, without considering the costs caused by environmental protection. Since LED lighting products generate much less human-hazard substances, people have no need to spend a large amount of money to depose with them during their operation. Although the aluminum alloy used as the main body of LED lighting products may cause damage to the earth, it is much better than other traditional lamps do.