Street Lighting

Renewable Energy & Advanced Lighting Systems for Exterior Applications

Exterior lighting generally operates from early evening through early morning, a period of little to no renewable energy generation, which means this lighting is primarily powered by carbon-dense fossil fuels. Fossil fuel use is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), poor air quality, water pollution and land degradation. In addition, low-quality exterior lighting characterized by poor color, inappropriate light distribution, and inadequate light levels has also been linked to increased crime rates and reduced physical activity within the surrounding community.

CLTC Helping to Educate Bay Area Leaders About Streetlighting Upgrades

CLTC and the Bay Area Climate Collaborative (BACC) are working to educate Bay Area municipal leaders about streetlighting upgrades to reduce energy use and save money.

Advanced Outdoor Lighting Control Systems

The California Lighting Technology Center partnered with San Diego Gas & Electric and two Southern California cities on a project to help accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient advanced outdoor lighting control systems.

The project evaluated outdoor wireless lighting control systems that allows for remote operation and monitoring of fixtures using a web-enabled central management system. Laboratory and field assessments were conducted for separate systems installed as part of citywide retrofit projects in San Diego and Chula Vista.

Next-Generation Street and Parking Lighting Workshop

12/11/2014

This in-depth workshop presented by the Bay Area Climate Collaborative and CLTC is for municipal leaders interested in learning about strategies for successful LED street and parking lighting upgrades. Municipal staff, area sustainability leaders and lighting professionals are encouraged to attend:

SPEED Business Case: Adaptive Street and Area Lighting

06/13/2014

This business case explores various lighting control options for LED retrofits of street and area lighting, along with funding and financing sources. It provides a general economic analysis of the costs and benefits associated with street/area retrofits and new-construction installations of post-top luminaires. The scenarios presented in this business case analysis have the potential to reduce lighting energy use and carbon emissions 72–93%, in areas with an average occupancy rate of 20%.

Next-Generation Lighting Workshop: Lighting for Street and Off-Street Parking

06/17/2014

This in-depth workshop presented by the Bay Area Climate Collaborative and CLTC is geared toward municipal leaders interested in improving public streetlights. Municipal staff, area sustainability leaders and lighting professionals are encouraged to attend:

Berkeley Begins LED Streetlight Project

The City of Berkeley recently approved a project to upgrade approximately 8,000 streetlights to LED technology by the end of 2014. The project is expected to cut the city’s CO2 emissions from streetlight energy consumption by 50% and reduce Berkeley’s total emissions by about 7%.

“We would like to thank the Bay Area Climate Collaborative, California Energy Commission and the California Lighting Technology Center for their support in getting this project to design and construction,” said Phillip Harrington, Berkeley’s Deputy Public Works Director.

The Long View on Streetlight Retrofits

01/08/2014

This working paper authored by CLTC Director Michael Siminovitch urges cities and municipalities preparing for streetlight retrofits to make sure adaptive controls are included in their near or long-term plans. Installing LED technology in place of high-pressure sodium sources can cut energy use roughly in half, but adding adaptive controls further reduces energy use by an additional 30–50%.

Strategies for Successful Deployment of LED Streetlight Upgrades

11/20/2013

Public works staff, transportation directors and engineers, and municipal sustainability leaders are encouraged to attend this in-depth workshop on strategies for successful LED retrofit projects. Over 50 representatives from local agencies, including the City of Oakland, Foster City, San Bruno, and San Jose, will share their insights and experiences. Topics covered will include financing options, ways to engage stakeholders, and factors to consider when purchasing products. A roundtable discussion of best practices for timely action will also be on the agenda.

LD+A Research Matters: Eyes on the Road

08/01/2013

LD+A – CLTC researchers incorporated passive infrared (PIR) occupancy sensors and networked controls into a test set of dimmable LED roadway fixtures. The adaptive street lighting system yielded energy savings 27 to 42 percent greater than when the fixtures operated at a static level. All occupants, 100 percent, were detected by the PIR occupancy sensor selected for field testing, whether they were traveling on foot, by bicycle, on a motorcycle, or in an automobile.

California Lighting Technology Center