When the lights go out

The street lights are going out where I live. Sounds a bit apocalyptic, but in truth it's just part of plans to trim £700,000rom the county council energy bills and reduce carbon emissions by 3,000 tonneses.

Not everyone is happy about this of course. The local press has reported some concerns from people who think that dark nights will mean more crime and traffic accidents. But this isn't a mass switch off of all street lights in the county, just the ones that aren't needed in quiet areas. And a 30mph speed limit applies whether or not street lights are switched on.

Gloucestershire County Council has been saving energy like this since last year, and their number crunchers have worked out that the initiative has saved £2,760 and reduced carbon emissions by 1,392 tonnes - enough to boil 90 million kettles.