Wassenaar municipality replaces old street lights with energy-efficient LED bulbs
In May 2025, the municipality of Wassenaar will start replacing old street lighting with modern LED lighting. We are doing this to save energy and to comply with European regulations.
Why are we switching to LED lighting?
There are two main reasons:
- Saving energy - LED bulbs use much less power than the old bulbs. That's better for the environment AND it reduces energy costs.
- New European rules - From February 2023, old mercury lamps, such as the "PL lamp," may no longer be manufactured. These bulbs are still widely used in Wassenaar, but will soon run out. Therefore, we are replacing them in time.
Large savings possible
Currently, about 67% of the public lighting in Wassenaar still consists of old lamps. By replacing these with LED lighting with a smart dimming system, we expect to use up to 60% less energy.
Where and when do we start?
We start in the northeastern part of Wassenaar, because this is where the oldest lamps are. Then we work step by step to the south. First we will replace the lighting in the residential areas, then on the through roads. The work started at the beginning of May.
Trial of smart lighting on bike lanes
In addition, in 2024 we started a trial on the bike path near Kokshorn Avenue. There we are testing smart lighting that automatically turns on when a cyclist approaches, and turns off again when no one is there. This system works without a subscription or modem and can save energy on quiet bike paths. We will test it for a year and then see if we can use it in other places in Wassenaar.