Trafalgar Square is a popular spot in London, both for tourists and locals.  With a number of historic statues, as well as the popular Trafalgar Square Fountains, the square is a commonly photographed area for tourists, and for locals, it is often the scene of festivals, cultural events, concerts, and sporting events.  The fountains dominate the square, and operate daily.  Built in 1844, they were remodeled in the 1930s, and the current lighting system was installed in 1992.  Over sixteen years old, the lighting system needs to be replaced, and the Greater London Authority is looking at using LED technology instead of the existing halogen bulbs.

Each fountain currently has twenty-eight waterproof lights, which when replaced with LED bulbs, would provide the city with significant cost savings.  The carbon footprint has been estimated to drop by 16,400 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year.  Additionally, because LED light bulbs are so long lasting, there will be fewer instances of bulb outages, creating a better experience for visitors.  With LED technology being largely low maintenance, it will also save the city on money and manpower, and will hopefully lower the number of times the fountains have to be turned off to for the lighting system to be cleaned and maintained.  LED lights will also allow for colored lighting that can be used at events and concerts.

The GLA is now accepting proposals from companies interested in working on the project, and hopes to have the new lighting system in place for the annual Christmas festivities in December.  The job will prove to be a big one, since all the existing cables will need to be replaced, and a new lighting control system developed.  However, once completed, the project will be an important step towards energy efficiency, a decreased environmental footprint, and increased visitor satisfaction.
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