How to Make City Lighting More Sustainable
As more city officials prioritize sustainability, many have identified lighting as a meaningful area for improvement. Knowing about changes made elsewhere facilitates selecting appropriate, impactful strategies.
1. Connect Safety to Sustainability
City leaders must understand the link between safety and sustainability. The United Nations Development Programme considers safe cities essential for sustainable growth. One project in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, illustrates the exciting possibilities.
It involved extensive upgrades to lighting in residential areas and public buildings. Residents who benefited from the improvements say the increased lighting reduced accidents involving people and pets. Additionally, parents expressed more confidence about their kids walking to and from school — even in the dark — because of new street lights installed along the route.
The improvements included more than 460 streetlights and a lighting network spanning more than 15,000 meters. Approximately 4,000 people living on 22 streets of the city’s newer districts experienced these installations’ many advantages.
These changes support sustainability by making life safer for residents and positioning the city as appealing to people who may relocate there. Additionally, if the modernized lighting reduces crime or accidents that require emergency attention, it will enable better utilization of the city’s resources.
Although this case study did not mention city officials getting feedback from residents before making changes, that is a wise step to include in the planning process. Those dealing with the daily effects of inadequate lighting will undoubtedly have many specifics about what to improve and how such decisions would improve their lives.
The increased visibility provided by smart security cameras could further improve safety when accompanied by bright, strategically placed lights.
2. Budget for Energy-Efficient Upgrades
Energy efficiency is often a top concern when city decision-makers consider sustainable lighting. They realize that even if the planned upgrades require significant upfront investment, they will usually pay for themselves over time, allowing cities to cut costs for the long term.
One strategy is to install energy-efficient lights in a few heavily used areas first, such as sports facilities, schools, and parks. When leaders see the results of those improvements, it should be easier to get executive buy-in for further upgrades. Another tip is to get several estimates from service providers accustomed to handling city-scale projects. Then, officials can clearly understand the average costs and feel assured they are not paying too much for planned work.
It is also wise to look for energy-efficient opportunities in lesser-considered light sources. For example, statistics indicate LED screens consume up to 70% less energy than alternatives. Many cities use large screens to inform people about traffic pattern changes, ongoing construction work, special events, and more. Switching is an effective option that is not always immediately considered.
In one English city, leaders planned an upgrade involving 18,000 lights. They believed that, besides cutting energy-related costs, the changes would improve people’s experiences and substantially decrease maintenance costs. This decision was also a major part of an eco-friendly strategy people will enact through 2050. Calculations indicated the upgrades would pay for themselves in eight years. That was partially due to results suggesting authorities would save £2 million in annual costs and more than 5 million kilowatt-hours of energy.
3. Consider Adaptable Lighting
Another practical way to make city lighting more sustainable is to consider options that change their brightness levels depending on the time of day or ambient lighting intensity. Then, the lights only use the maximum energy when necessary and may remain off during times of abundant sunlight.
Some options may also have remote-control capabilities, allowing facilities managers or other authorized parties to operate them from anywhere or get fault notifications. In another example from the United Kingdom, city officials installed lighting along paths frequently used by cyclists and pedestrians. This decision simultaneously supported sustainability and safety, making the area more appealing to those interested in using it.
Additionally, the lights operate at 20% brightness until built-in sensors detect people. Then, they go to 100% to increase visibility. Another integrated technology turns off the lights during adequate sunlight, further conserving energy.
City staff members can also set and adjust dimming schedules on their phones. That allows them to respond to different operating hours, closures due to public holidays, and other necessities.
Sustainable Lighting Makes Sense
City officials remain accountable to multiple parties who want to ensure they use their budgets responsibly and in ways that benefit the community. These examples highlight numerous accessible ways to maximize outcomes while choosing sustainable lighting.