31 May, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Polotsk has begun implementing the "20-20-20" strategy, the Polotsk Communal Unitary Enterprise of Housing and Communal Services informed a BELTA correspondent. 75 energy-saving lamps have been installed on the central avenue of the ancient city to replace outdated ones. The supplier of the high-efficiency equipment was the "CKB" Production and Design Enterprise of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Unlike traditional lamps, LED lamps are characterised by a long service life (up to 15 years) and high luminous efficiency. They will help save up to 30% of energy and, at the same time, do not contain harmful mercury-containing substances, are vibration-resistant, and are electrically and explosion-proof. The lighting replacement cost €42,000 and was a pilot project of the sustainable energy development plan approved by the Polotsk City Executive Committee, which was developed within the framework of the European Union project "SURE: Sustainable energy development in regional cities – European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument towards the Covenant of Mayors". Polotsk became the first city in Belarus to sign the Covenant of Mayors and join this global European initiative, thereby declaring its intention to achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by at least 20% by 2020, increase the share of alternative energy sources to 20%, and improve energy efficiency by 20%. The replacement of lamps was the first step towards implementing the "20-20-20" strategy. At the end of June, Energy Days will be held in the city, aimed at engaging as many residents as possible in energy saving. By the end of 2013, Polotsk plans to develop a sustainable urban mobility plan. It will integrate bicycle paths, parking spaces, and interchanges into a single system, and define zones free of motor vehicle traffic to minimise environmental impact.