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This section introduces various energy efficient public lighting technologies, explaining the characteristics of each, outlining relevant trials, and listing suppliers and case studies where available. It also presents a number of complementary sustainable public lighting practices, including energy efficient lighting design, dimming, and recycling.
To make council’s public lighting more sustainable, you can: - Reduce the number of lights you maintain by removing them from inappropriate locations and by increasing pole height and spacing.
- Reduce the energy consumption of your lights by
- Using lanterns which incorporate reflector design, diffuser losses and/or better light distribution
- Improving your lamp maintenance routine to reduce the number of dayburners and to ensure that lighting levels are appropriate according to the Australian Standards.
- Dimming lights during dusk, dawn and/or low traffic periods
- Reduce operating hours of your lights by switching lights off after specified times (e.g. midnight) using time clocks or line switching.
- Change your energy supply by choosing Green Power or installing solar lighting.
- Reduce the waste from public lighting by recycling wherever possible and avoiding the use of components that contain hazardous materials.
Many of the pages on the Toolbox are relevant to all lighting applications, but some pages are more relevant to a particular type of public lighting: - For information relevant to minor road lighting, see Taking Action and its sub-pages – especially Financing Changeovers. See also Australian Standards, T5 Fluorescent lamps, and Compact Fluorescent lamps.
- For information relevant to major road lighting, see State and Territory Information, Australian Standards, Greenlight Australia Strategy, High Pressure Sodium lamps, Metal Halide lamps, Induction lamps, Solar lighting, On/Off Controls, Ballasts & Control Gear, and Waste & Recycling.
- For information relevant to the public lighting of parks, reserves and car parks, as well as spotlighting, see most of the Taking Action section - especially Planning & Design. See also Light Emitting Diode lamps, Community Engagement page, and Emerging Technologies.
- For specific technology related questions asked by councils around Australia see the Q&A Service
The following table provides an overview of available street lighting technologies and gives them a star rating. Click to enlarge.
The following table outlines variations between technologies and highlights characteristics. Click to enlarge.
 - Technology comparison table.
The following documents provide technical overviews of current sustainable public lighting options and/or results from trials of energy efficient technologies. Please note that as the technologies are refined over time some technical data contained in the reports may have since been updated.
- SPLI Technical Sheet: This document provides a succinct comparison of the lighting technologies used in Sustainable Public Lighting Initiative (SPLI). Although some of the information is now out of date, it remains an excellent starting point for those new to the field. See also the SPLI Tech Sheet Update (June 2008) for a basic comparison of lamp technologies used in the SPLI project. In addition, a detailed technical comparison (June 2008) of T5 and compact fluorescent with mercury vapour is now available. This covers costs, maintenance and technical specifications of the technologies involved.
- NAGA and AGL Sustainable Public Lighting Initiative - Demonstration Project Final Report. (Ray Simms and Kevin Poulton, September 2007). This report presents the results of the 2004-07 NAGA/AGL trials that tested the 2X14W T5, 42W CFL and the 50W HPS. Recommendations: the T5 is recommended as a standard direct replacement for the 80W MV. The 42W CFL is not recommended as a standard direct replacement for the 80W MV except where the T5 cannot be used. The use of 50W HPS as a replacement for MV is not recommended.
- Evaluation of Low Energy Lights for Minor Road Lighting. Produced by the Victorian Sustainable Public Lighting Action Group (VSPLAG). Final report 12 March 2008. Evaluation of the twin 14 & 24W T5 flourescent (deemed technically acceptable), 32 & 42W compact flourescent (deemed technically acceptable pending minor modification), and 50W high pressure sodium (deemed technically unacceptable due to its yellow light and relatively higher energy consumption). [Note some minor corrections have been made on the previously released version.]
A list of lighting contractors and consultants is now available if you require professional assistance to progress your sustainable public lighting projects.
Note: ICLEI Oceania and its partners do not endorse any of the suppliers, contractors or consultants in this list. None have been checked for independent testing or assessments therefore users should investigate the quality of products and services themselves. ICLEI Oceania takes no responsibility for the outcomes that result from use this list.
- Train council staff on the Australian Standards for Road Lighting (AS/NZ 1158) with a view to standards compliant energy efficiency options.
- Talk to asset management about current management of public lighting.
- Map out what each person/department knows in relation to the technical/legislative requirements of public lighting; share that knowledge as appropriate.
- Attend seminars and training sessions on energy efficient technology, tariffs, legislation, energy market deregulation and other public lighting topics.
- Create links with consultants/external bodies that can provide technical information on energy efficiency in public lighting.
- Conduct trials of alternative lighting in partnership with your distribution business, lighting supplier and/or other councils in your region
- Identify what is currently being trialled, what is technically accepted by your distribution business, and what you would like to negotiate with your distribution business for inclusion onto the load table/standard list. It makes sense to do this regionally.
- Use poles that are recyclable
- Install energy efficient lamps. To help you decide which lamp technology is most appropriate for your needs, read through the technical overviews and/or read about other councils' experiences of each one
- Install energy efficient luminaires
- Install Active Reactor devices
- Install PE cells
- Install electronic control gear
- Use more effective lanterns (e.g. reflector design, diffuser losses, better light distribution)
- Improve lamp maintenance routine to ensure lighting levels are effective and lights are not coming on during the day
- Turn lights down (ie dimming), during dusk, dawn, and/or low traffic periods
- Turn lights off after a certain time (e.g. midnight) using time clocks or line switching
- Recycle your lamps and poles (most lamps and some poles can be recycled)
- Increase spacing of lights. (e.g. every 3rd pole not every 2nd pole)
- Reduce the number of lamps that contain toxic materials (e.g. reduce the number of mercury vapour lamps which contain mercury)
- Specify taller poles (e.g. 6.5m) - to increase light spacing
- Specify minimum energy performance standard (I.e. minimum lumens per watt)
- Remove lights from inappropriate locations.
- Lighting & crime for a discussion of the relationship between lighting and public safety
- Your council's engineer and/or asset manager
- Consulting engineering firms such as DPD
- Lighting manufacturers
- International public lighting authorities
- The Lighting Council Australia Technical Committee
- The llluminating Engineering Society (IES) of Australia and New Zealand
- Distribution businesses and roads authorities in your state
- Events for upcoming public lighting field trips
- FAQs for answers to questions like 'What is a public light?'
- Key Terms
- Public Lighting in Australia – Energy Efficiency Challenges and Opportunities (Genesis et al., 2006 – download from Publications) for a good description of technical opportunities and a costs-benefits comparison of renewable electricity and energy efficient lighting.
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