Essendon Fields ramps up its sustainability efforts by completing its program of installing new LED street and carpark lighting across the precinct.

Essendon Fields has completed a major sustainability initiative, ensuring an additional 339 carpark and streetlights have been upgraded to more energy efficient LED lighting, which will have major environmental benefits as well as a long-term cost reduction in relation to both energy and maintenance.

The new LED lighting was installed in the northern precinct roadways by contractor NetZero, as well as in the cark parks off English Street.

“We’re anticipating an energy reduction of somewhere between 45% and 55% from the replacement LED lighting, while actually being better and brighter, and a subsequent significant reduction in greenhouse emissions due to lower electricity usage,’’ said Corey Wilson, Senior Facilities Manager at Essendon Fields.

“This is another fantastic step in protecting our local environment today, for a sustainable tomorrow at Essendon Fields. We thank our customers for their patience over the last few weeks as some traffic management was engaged to complete the project safely and to schedule,” said Mr Wilson.

Mr Wilson said this work completes the change-over to LED lighting for all the street lighting and public areas across the 330 hectares of Essendon Fields.

“We are however continually looking for opportunities to action additional minor LED upgrade projects such as within hangars and other facilities.”

Earlier in the year Essendon Fields proudly reported it had completed a major upgrade of the lighting to LED within the DFO Essendon car park, and in 2022 offset 100 per cent of the carbon emissions from the lighting on its airport runways, taxiways and aprons.

“We acknowledge and appreciate the support of the Victorian State Government through their VEEC scheme for this project, as well as the works earlier in the year in the DFO Essendon carpark in conjunction with Vicinity Centres,” Mr Wilson finished.

Essendon Fields now looks to the future to determine the next initiative that will further reduce its environmental impact, and supports urban regeneration plans and reducing the overall carbon footprint for the airport. With 1 million litres of rainwater storage currently the capacity, Essendon Fields looks to increase this to 1.5 million litres, and careful consideration will go towards the incorporation of water sensitive urban design initiatives into new development. Rooftop solar PV panels will continue to roll out as well, which will create significant power supply to feed back into the EF embedded network. 1,242 panels have been installed, with the intent to grow to 1500-2000 panels and a long-term view to generate over 50% of the electricity needs for the park from a renewable resource.

For more information about the commitment to sustainability at Essendon Fields please visit: https://ef.com.au/about-us/sustainability/