London's Tower Bridge gets LED lighting system

Electric (GE) and EDF Energy have received the go-ahead to install energy-efficient LED technology and a cabling system to illuminate the 800-foot Tower Bridge in London, enhancing the bridge's gothic features in time for the 2012 Olympic Games, Silicon Republic reports.

The bridge lighting will be installed by French firm Citelum, which has designed lighting for landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower; the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt; and the Petronas Twin Towers, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

According to London.gov.uk, the new system will help cut energy consumption from lighting the bridge by up to 40% compared with today, while enhancing its world-renowned architectural features at night.

Thanks to a funding agreement negotiated by the mayor between the City of London (which own Tower Bridge), EDF Energy and GE, the new lighting system comes without any cost to taxpayers.

Plans to replace Tower Bridge's 25-year-old lights with a new energy-efficient system were granted final planning consents in October. The state-of-the-art LED lighting and cabling system will be installed in time for next year's 2012 celebrations.

English Heritage had initially objected to the plans because the logos of EDF and GE will be projected onto the bridge, which is a grade I listed building, every evening throughout the Olympic period, The heritage watchdog later withdrew its objection in recognition of the exceptional circumstances of the London Olympic, London SE1 writes.

EDF Energy will also be supplying electricity for Tower Bridge, and will match every unit of electricity that is used by the landmark with power generated from low-carbon sources.

Work is expected to start imminently on the installation of the new equipment.