Community Engagement

In order to create community awareness and understanding of sustainable public lighting, a combination of the following suggestions could be undertaken by council:

• Resident surveys – to ascertain attitudes, perceptions and awareness of any new sustainable public lighting
• Awareness campaign at point of sale of allotments – council in consultation with developer
• Neighbourhood night watch – to be briefed on the lighting trials by council and requested to report failures
• Recording comments/complaints from residents of new sustainable public lighting
• Newsletters to promote existing or intended sustainable public lighting initiatives
• Workshops or other consultation methods to determine community expectations of lighting levels

Tool: Model Street Lighting Community Survey

A community survey can help to clarify whether there are any concerns regarding the operation of a sustainable public lighting scheme. In addition, if the scheme is well-received, the results of the survey may serve to support the implementation of further sustainable public lighting measures.

A street lighting community survey (Word document, 43KB) was developed by  Banyule City Council, Victoria on behalf of the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action under the former Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria's 2004 Sustainable Public Lighting Initiative (SPLI). This was used following trials of the T5 linear fluorescent. The survey can be used as a guide for councils seeking resident opinions on the operation of new street lighting. For further information see the trial report, which includes the resident survey results.

Case study: Banyule Consults Community On Switching Off Park Lights Late At Night

Following consultation with local residents, in 2007 Banyule City Council, Victoria installed timers to turn park lights off four hours after they turned on, reducing light pollution into residents’ houses after dark and discouraging use of the park late at night. For more information, see the case study in the Sustainable Design and Maintenance Guidelines 2008 produced by NAGA.

Case study: Residents Survey During CFL Trial In Surf Coast Shire, Victoria

Surf Coast Shire Council together with their distribution business Powercor are testing the 42W compact flourescent for performance in salty conditions in 2008. As part of the CFL trial, Ocean Boulevard residents were asked to complete a lighting survey to gauge public opinion of the new energy efficient globes - see the community survey results.

Case Study: Coffs Harbour Street Lighting Survey

Between 2000–05 Coffs Harbour City Council developed and implemented the Energy Efficient Street Lighting Programme, which led it to retrofit its entire public lighting stock with high pressure sodium (50W HPS). Before proceeding with the retrofit, council undertook trials of low pressure and high pressure sodium in two areas and surveyed residents about their impressions. This revealed a high level of acceptance for high pressure sodium (the preferred technology), as can be see from the results in the Coffs Harbour Street Lighting Survey.

The City of Dallas in Texas, US has launched an environmental website for residents, which features energy efficient street lighting initiatives and links to relevant environmental policies. The City has converted to energy efficient LED traffic lights at 11,000 city intersections.

It is hoped the website will encourage community acceptance of new energy efficient technologies and strategies being implemented by the city to reduce its impact on the environment.

More information 

Hold community information sessions on energy, climate change and public lighting alternatives in areas that will have new lighting or trials. Educate the public about the link between lighting, crime and perceptions of safety

1. Create an awareness campaign at point of sale of allotments, in consultation with the developer
2. Conduct surveys or create working groups to determine community attitudes, perceptions, expectations and awareness of lighting levels and any new sustainable public lighting. Some of the expectations may be conflicting, which is why it is important to recognise them early. However, working groups will give an opportunity to raise awareness and enable the community to make decisions about whether lighting is actually needed at all. Involve groups such as astronomical societies
3. Encourage residents to report faults, for example brief Neighbourhood night watch on the lighting trials by council and request that they report failures. Or, involve scouts, guides and service clubs in identifying 'day burners' (lighting on during the day)
4. Record comments/complaints from residents after installing new efficient lighting, and ensure you respond to these
5. Survey the community after the new lighting has been installed to get their input/involvement.