Smart lighting systems can help cities reduce costs, cut carbon emissions, and help boost energy efficiency and public safety.

Street lighting is estimated to account for nearly 40% of a city’s energy consumption, so it’s no wonder that cities around the world are getting smarter about it. In fact, about 90% of streetlights globally are expected to be upgraded to LEDs by 2030. By replacing existing streetlights with LED-based lamps, utilities and other streetlight operators can cut energy and operations costs by 50% or more.

Smart streetlights can also incorporate sensors that collect and transmit information to help cities monitor and respond to traffic congestion, air quality, crowds, and noise. They can even detect and track available parking spaces.

For example, the city of Chicago has completed a Smart Lighting Modernization program to replace about 85 percent of its streetlights with high-efficiency LED lights. These LED fixtures use less than half the energy of their older legacy systems and can last for twice as long. The project is projected to save Chicago taxpayers $100 million in electricity costs over the next ten years.

Philadelphia is converting more than 100,000 streetlights to LEDs. The project is expected to cut the energy used by street lights in half, saving enough electricity annually to power nearly 3,700 homes. City officials say the project will also mean major energy savings and will help reduce the city’s carbon footprint. Additionally, Baltimore is deploying 260,000 smart streetlights to reduce energy consumption and enhance safety in the community.

Networked LED street lighting systems can offer cities a chance to maximize low-energy lighting benefits while also improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety by brightening upon approach, which is happening in cities like Copenhagen. And in some locations, these smart networked streetlights have helped reduce crime by up to 10 percent.

Learn more @ Itron