Bristol City Centre fountains get a colourful makeover

Visitors to Bristol city centre will see the area in a new light this year as the iconic fountains have undergone a colourful, energy-saving upgrade.
Local business, Lighting Services, worked with the council to install the new LED lamps at the site opposite the Bristol Hippodrome, saving the council £13,000 a year on running costs.

The new lights have been installed during the city’s European Green Capital year and can change through the colour spectrum and display different patterns, bringing a new lease of life to the fountains.

Tony Ludlow from Lighting Services, said: “We specialise in energy saving, waterproof lights and the new lamps have an extended lifetime of 50,000 hours, compared to just 2,000 hours for the previous halogen product.

“Its projects like this that make Bristol become a more sustainable city, and we’re got solutions for many different types of businesses. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working on this project to transform Bristol’s iconic fountains.”

The lights have recently been set to green, signalling the city’s status as European Green Capital this year.

Paul Isbell, Service Manager for Energy at Bristol City Council, added: “Energy-saving is one of our top priorities and we’re constantly looking for ways to make Bristol more energy efficient. The council has some ambitious carbon reduction targets and we’re taking it one project at a time to help us achieve these goals.

“We’re looking at the whole picture of life in Bristol and it’s really important to retain the city’s sense of fun. The new fountain lights are perfect as we can change the colour to suit different events taking place in the centre.

“The lights also improve safety in the city centre as the steps to the ferry landing are now better-lit.”

The city centre lighting project was paid for using Salix Funding – a locally managed, interest free loan scheme designed to allow the council to improve the energy efficiency of its properties.

Lighting Services, started in 1985, stock and supply lamps, luminaires and control gear as well as offering services such as lighting design and energy management.

Lighting Services customers include: Bristol’s Colston Hall, Bristol Airport and the University of the West of England.

Also known as Specialist Lighting Services, more information about the Bristol-based company can be found at www.lightingservices.com

More about Salix Finance can be found at www.salixfinance.co.uk

Specialist Lighting Services (UK), 3 Avon Valley Business Park, Chapel Way, St Annes, Bristol, BS4 4EU