Businesses in Archway are being offered cut-price lighting to help slash their electricity bills and energy use.

Until the end of March, small and medium-sized businesses and organisations in the Archway Low Carbon Zone can save 80 per cent on energy-efficient lighting.

Replacing old lighting tubes can cut energy bills by up to 40 per cent. A business replacing 40 tubes would save �300 on electricity every year and the lights would pay for themselves in less than eight months.

The first lights were put in this month at local firms Absolute Print and Metro Food and Wine.

Hak Huseyin, of Absolute Print, said: “Having installed the lights here at Absolute Print I am delighted, as this was part of our three-year CO2 reduction plan to change our existing lighting to the T5 energy efficient lighting.

“The grant has meant instead of doing the lighting in mid-2012 as planned we have managed to do it over a year-and-a-half early.

“This will have a real impact on our personal goal of 30 per cent carbon reduction as well helping Archway Low Carbon Zone achieve its goal. Of course the added bonus of reducing our lighting bill by 50 per cent is brilliant.”

Councillor Paul Smith, Islington Council’s executive member for environment, said: “We’re delighted to help businesses save money on electricity bills.

“I’d invite Archway to take up this offer to cut their costs, save energy and help the Archway Low Carbon Zone.”

Funding is on a first-come-first-served basis and interested businesses interested can call Paul Murphy, carbon reduction advisor at Islington Council, on 0207 527 2349.