Useful Insights on Energy-Efficient Street Lighting

 

Providing street lighting is one of the most important responsibilities of a city.  Inefficient lighting wastes significant money and poor lighting creates unsafe conditions. Energy-efficient technologies can reduce street lighting costs, allow users to commute at night with good visibility and provide illumination for security and safety. Here we share with you useful insights on energy-efficient street lighting:

 

1. Types of lamps: Normally, street lighting installations use one of these four types:

●      Metal halide (MH)

●      High intensity discharge (HID) lamps

●      LED

●      Fluorescent tubular lamp

 

Despite the higher upfront cost of an LED light fixture, the long-term savings in energy and maintenance make LEDs a wise investment. LEDs consume far less electricity than conventional lamps. In addition, LEDs do not contain any mercury or other harmful chemicals, making them a more environmentally-friendly option than HID lamps. And because they last so much longer than traditional bulbs, LEDs also result in fewer trips to the store to purchase replacement bulbs. When all factors are considered, investing in an LED light fixture is a sound financial decision.

2. Optimum height of luminaries: One of the essential aspects of designing new lighting systems is to find the capacity of the light sources and the optimum position of the luminaires. The optimum mounting height must be chosen by taking into account the light distribution of the luminaires and the light output of the sources. To avoid excessive glare, the mounting height must be greater for powerful lamps.

3. Spacing of street lights:

A lighting pole height is related to the width of the area that needs to be illuminated. Typically, 4-5-6 metre poles are used on sidewalks and bicycle roads. Narrower streets and byroads may prefer 8-10 metre  poles, while boulevards, commercial, and industrial areas often use 10-12 metre poles. The type of lightbulb also plays a role in the necessary height of the pole. For example, LED bulbs often require taller poles than traditional bulbs. Ultimately, the decision of how tall a lighting pole should be is based on the specific needs of the area. 

Note: Proper pole spacing and height have to:

●      Meet recommended light levels.

●      Provide uniform light distribution, which improves appearance for safety and security.

●      Minimise the number of poles, reducing maintenance and energy costs.

Utkarsh India is one of the reputed street light pole suppliers in India. They offer light poles for a wide range of applications.  As per customer specifications and design requirements, their lighting poles start from 3 metres to any size. Their street lights come with internal and external hinges that ensure a better anti-vandalism system. They also offer a designer street light pole that illuminates the area and at the same time, elevates the overall aesthetic appeal.

4. Proper maintenance: Energy consumption for street lighting can be reduced by incorporating good maintenance practices such as: 

●      Early rectification of cable faults

●      Replacing defective lamps, accessories and wires

●      Make sure that cables are joined properly

●      Regular cleaning of the luminaire cover to keep it free of dust/dirt and increase light output

●      To avoid loose connections

●      Regular maintenance of service fuse/cabinet box

5. Dimming systems:

Dimming systems typically operate by reducing the supply voltage to the light fixtures. This can result in a significant reduction in energy consumption while still providing adequate illumination. The use of dimming systems is typically most effective when the supply voltage exceeds 220 V, which typically occurs between late night and early morning hours when traffic density is significantly reduced.