Lightbulbs conversion set to save West Midlands Police £400k
The force is rolling out an extensive five-year upgrade programme.
West Midlands Police bosses believe they can slash annual utility bills by £400,000 by upgrading light bulbs in its estate.
As part of a newly endorsed ‘Pathway to Net Zero’ strategy, the force is rolling out an extensive five-year upgrade programme.
Phase 1 focuses heavily on high-consumption sites, introducing comprehensive LED lighting replacements across 18 non-refurbished police stations and buildings.
Once fully implemented, the switch to energy-efficient bulbs will achieve an estimated annual financial saving of £397,390.
The conversion will also permanently wipe out 278 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said: “At a time when public budgets are under severe pressure, we must look at every single corner of our estate to cut waste and protect the taxpayer’s pocket.
“Saving nearly £400,000 a year just by changing light bulbs and upgrading to LED systems is a win for both the West Midlands Police budget and our planet.
“Every pound we prevent from leaking out into utility bills is a pound we can use to protect front-line policing and support our officers out on the streets.
“This is exactly what a smart, modern police force looks like – slashing our carbon footprint while directly reinvesting those significant efficiency savings right back into keeping West Midlands communities safe and secure.”
The green lighting roll-out is part of a broader sustainability push across the force area.
A report, presented at an Accountability and Governance Board meeting on Tuesday (October 27), reveals that the PCC’s wider environmental strategy has already successfully engineered a 16.4 per cent reduction in the force’s overall carbon footprint against its baseline.
The lighting upgrade works will be supplemented by advanced Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) panels integrated into upcoming major refurbishments at Stechford, Tally Ho and Wolverhampton Central, which are projected to yield an additional £220,780 in annual utility savings.
Elsewhere, the PCC’s eco-friendly transformation extends directly onto the streets, with the force also expanding its sustainable transport options.
This includes 48 electric cycles – or e-bikes – now actively deployed for officer use across ten key locations including Dudley Castlegate, Coventry Central and Digbeth to ensure a reassuring and visible, carbon-neutral presence in local neighbourhoods.