08 November 2011

‘Green light’ for Tower Bridge eco-makeover

Tower Bridge, one of the London’s most instantly recognisable landmarks, is set to receive an eco-makeover.

Approval has been granted for work to begin on replacing the bridge’s 25-year-old lights with a new, energy efficient eco-friendly system. The state-of-the-art LED lighting and cabling system will be installed in time for next year's 2012 celebrations and exemplifies the Mayor’s efforts to make London more ‘green’.

The project will help cut energy consumption from lighting by up to 40 per cent compared with today’s usage, while enhancing its world-renowned architectural features at night. Replacing the current static lights with varying colours and intensity will enable it to play a vibrant role in special events, such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games, New Year’s Eve and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Mayor Boris Johnson said, "The spectacular view of Tower Bridge from my office in City Hall is one of my favourites in London, and it’s fantastic to now be able to crack on with this work to make it even better, brighter and greener and at no cost to the taxpayer.

“This city is going to be watched by the world next summer and this grand old lady of London, one of our best loved landmarks, is now set to play a sparkling role in the celebrations. But what’s more, this is another lasting legacy stemming from the Games which will benefit the city for decades."