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Brighter LED lighting saves energy at ticket machines

May 20, 2009

London's transport authority has introduced LED lighting for more than 1100 ticket machines along its bus routes.

London Buses has introduced LED lighting at all of its roadside ticket machines, saving up to 75 per cent of the energy used by conventional lighting.

Transport for London (TfL) says that LED lighting on a ticket machine uses 0.8W, compared to 32W for conventional lighting, a saving of 31.2W. Taken across 1,109 mains-powered ticket machines operating 365 days a year, this results in a saving of 170 tonnes of CO₂ per year. (This is equivalent to the weight of more than ten London double-deck buses weighing 16 tonnes each.)

The introduction of LED lighting is part of London Buses’ continuing efforts to save energy and improve the passenger environment across the London bus network.

A further 33 ticket machines in London run on batteries, which do not provide enough power to support conventional lighting. Due to the lower power requirements of LED lighting, these machines will be lit for the first time.

TfL says that despite using less power, LEDs are much brighter than conventional lighting, making the machines easier to use. The LEDs also last a lot longer, ten years on average compared to just two years for conventional fluorescent tubes, meaning lower maintenance and disposal costs.

London Buses already uses LED lighting at 3,500 solar powered bus stops and 640 passenger shelters.

Paul London, London Buses Ticket Technology Manager, said: “We’re always looking for ways in which new technology can help us decrease our impact on the environment, improve our passengers’ experience, and provide value for money. Introducing LEDs on ticket machines is a small change that’s part of a much bigger effort to make our operations more efficient and environmentally friendly.”

Roadside ticket machines are used in the central London "Pay Before You Board" area, on bendy bus routes outside this area and at other busy locations around London.