Rafal has received an aid of 300,000 euros from the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) to renew the public lighting of the municipality. The Consistory has opted for this project to continue with its commitment to sustainability and energy saving. The actions will be carried out in the coming months and will replace a high percentage of the bulbs in the municipality that are currently carbon by type LED.
The City Council presented a broad project to the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism through the Institute of Diversification and Energy Saving to publicize the current situation of the municipality and propose improvements to qualify for the aid granted. Within this study the state of the current luminaire, which is more than twenty years old and consists of high pressure sodium vapor ballasts with powers of 100, 150, 250 and 400 watts, was reviewed. The shortcomings were also reviewed, as well as the incompatibilities that exist with the new regulations or the regulations established in terms of energy efficiency.
The actions will focus on the urban center of the municipality, the industrial estate, the southeast area and the area of Casas Baratas, in short, a large percentage of the municipality that will reduce consumption and save a large amount of money. In addition to the change of bulbs will also be carried out the renovation of the dashboards and control systems will be incorporated by astronomical clocks to monitor the consumption and improve the low voltage protections.
The mayor of the municipality, Manuel Pineda explained that “this aid has given us to the municipality will have to return within a period of 10 years without generating any interest.” He has indicated that “with the savings that will be carried out after the change of the luminaire can face the payment with total security and without any type of economic impact for the municipality.” Pineda has also insisted that “with this new project the municipality reaffirms its commitment to the environment and continues its task to meet the parameters of sustainability and energy efficiency.”