A TWO year programme to make traffic lights more environmentally friendly is in its final stages.

Kent Highway Services has nearly finished the process of replacing every traffic light in the county with cost-effective low-energy bulbs, on behalf of Kent County Council.

The programme has been met with enthusiasm by Sevenoaks Transition Town, a community climate change organisation.

Spokesman Ian Smith said: "We fully support developments like this which increase energy efficiency of the traffic system.

Savings

"They are more energy efficient and also last a lot longer, so are more reliable because of that."

There are 290 groups of traffic lights on road junctions and 377 sets of pedestrian crossing controllers being switched under the programme, which is due to be completed next month.

The programme is costing £1.7million, but the county council is adamant this is nothing compared to environmental and financial savings it will bring.

County council spokesman Phil Scriviner said using new light-emitting diodes (LEDs), instead of traditional light sources, means less energy will be used.

He estimated energy costs would be reduced for taxpayers by £150,000 a year.

LEDs are tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit.

But unlike ordinary incandescent bulbs, they don't have a filament that will burn out, and they don't get especially hot.

Deadline

Because of this, the LEDs have a longer life expectancy of 10 years, so lamps will not need to be replaced as frequently.

The county council also expects to save one tonne of carbon dioxide every year by the changes.

Kent county councillor Nick Chard said: "The switch from existing halogen lamps will result in substantial financial and environmental savings.

"This is a good example which shows that going green makes sound business sense."

Although there are still Kent County Council spokeswoman Nadine Miller said there were 150 sets of lights still to go, officials are but was confident they would be finished by the September deadline.

It is part of a nationwide effort to cut carbon emissions.