ILE aims to shed light on saving energy

05 December 2007

Methods which allow local highway authorities to save money on streetlighting electricity, while still providing lamps, are to be highlighted by new research.

The Institution of Lighting Engineers is following up the publication, last year, of guidance on measures to cut lighting electricity costs without switching off lamps, by collecting further evidence on the scope for savings.

The first research project, let by the UK Lighting Board to TRL, aims to provide detailed advice on how local highway authorities should decide how much lighting to provide on different streets.

There was concern that, faced with ‘broad-brush’ guidance in BS5489, councils interpreted the advice very differently, said Dave Coatham, the ILE’s technical services manager. They often set similar lighting levels to those of their neighbours, rather than deciding the optimum level.

‘If authorities decide to provide more light than is necessary for particular streets, they have to bear the cost of that for at least the next 25 years,’ he warned. In a second research project, the ILE wants to assist councils in calculating the benefits of spending money on measures that will, in time, produce significant savings by reducing energy costs. Setting photo-electric cells to switch on at 50 lux, instead of 70, and turn off at 25 lux, rather than 30, could save 200 hours’ burning time a year.

The ILE wants to provide worked-up examples – ideally based on real-life examples – to make it easier for councils to work out the benefits of readjusting light levels. Coatham stressed: ‘Dimming lighting is becoming more of a proposition, with luminaire improvements.’ A third research project will examine the need for the lighting of signs and bollards.

The Local Authority Lighting 2007 conference takes place in London on Tuesday 11 December. : 020 7973 4663

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ILE aims to shed light on saving energy

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