Tbilisi switches to energy efficient outdoor lighting

The Georgian capital, Tbilisi, is moving to modern, energy efficient outdoor lighting, which will save about 70 percent of the city‘s energy.

This news was voiced at Friday’s Economic Council Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

The Council approved the document presented by Tbilisi Municipality, which will see 100,000 lamps in the city be replaced with light-emitting diode (LED) products.

Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania said the new LED lights would "significantly” reduce the city's electricity costs.

"[LED lamps] are three times more efficient in terms of lighting and their operational life is 10 years,” he said.

The Economic Council believed in the future, the same kind of lighting replacement would be carried out in Georgia’s regions too.

"The other municipalities will share our experience and the lights will be replaced in the regions. As for Tbilisi, preference will be given to the investor, which will also offer construction of an assembly plant,” Mayor Narmania said.

"Fulfillment of the mentioned project will not cause additional costs. On the contrary, we will save electricity and street lighting maintenance costs, which will be the investor's profit. However, we will have a better illuminated city.”

Next week, Tbilisi Municipality will set up a commission to consider investors‘ proposals.