Discover how Leicestershire County Council is leading the charge towards a sustainable future with Telensa’s innovative smart streetlighting system. This transformative solution has not only slashed energy costs and carbon emissions but has also enhanced community safety and responsiveness.
Customer Challenge:
Leicestershire County Council (LCC) faced significant challenges with its initial part-night photocell approach, which aimed to save money by reducing energy consumption in streetlighting. This method proved contentious and logistically problematic, particularly when reverting large areas to all-night lighting was necessary, leading to substantial costs and public dissatisfaction. The need for a more flexible, cost-effective, and less intrusive solution became evident as LCC sought to balance energy efficiency with public safety and satisfaction.
Solution:
In response to these challenges, LCC adopted Telensa’s ‘PLANet’ Public Lighting Central Management System (CMS). This advanced system allows for granular and group adjustments to lighting profiles, accommodating both long-term changes to lighting policy and real-time community and emergency needs. The CMS’s capabilities were demonstrated effectively during emergencies, such as the immediate reinstatement of all-night lighting following the Birstall gas explosion, whilst the surrounding neighbourhood was completely evacuated Furthermore, the system supports sophisticated dimming schedules based on traffic levels and area-specific requirements, significantly enhancing streetlight management efficiency.
Key Phases of the Initiative:
- 2010 Initial Part-Night Lighting: Introduction of part-night lighting where 55% of streetlights were turned off from midnight until 5:30 AM, based on criteria and risk assessments.
- 2015 LED and CMS Implementation: Following successful reductions in energy consumption, the council initiated an LED and CMS replacement program for most its assets.
- 2018 Complete Rollout and Advanced Dimming: By 2018, the rollout of LED lighting and CMS was completed, and a three-step dimming program was introduced, enhancing energy efficiency further.
- 2021 Expansion of Dimming: Extended the dimming protocol to include all-night lights within residential areas, maintaining appropriate lighting on streets with speed humps to ensure safety.
- 2023 Current Adjustments: Implemented a dimming reduction to 30% at 8:00 PM with exemptions for critical areas like town centres, traffic calming measures, and pedestrian crossings. Close collaboration with emergency services ensures that lighting levels can be adjusted quickly in response to specific incidents or activities.
Results:
The outcomes of this initiative are demonstrated most clearly in the significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions over the years. From a baseline of 15,581 tCO2e in 2008-09, emissions from streetlighting and traffic signals have been dramatically reduced to 2,009 tCO2e by 2022-23. This progression shows a consistent decrease, with recent years recording:
- 2020-21: 2,424 tCO2e
- 2021-22: 2,228 tCO2e
- 2022-23: 2,009 tCO2e
These results are particularly remarkable considering the number of streetlights has increased each year, demonstrating the effectiveness of the technological advancements and strategic management applied by the council. The continual addition of streetlights while still achieving reductions in emissions exemplifies a successful balance between expanding infrastructure needs and sustainability goals.
IN SUMMARY
Through the implementation of LED upgrades and Telensa’s smart streetlighting system, Leicestershire County Council achieved:
• Enhanced energy and operational efficiency: Significant improvements in streetlight management, reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
• Dramatic reduction in carbon emissions: Achieved an 84% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over 12 years, contributing to environmental sustainability goals.
• Responsive and adaptable lighting control: Ability to make immediate changes to lighting settings in response to emergencies and public feedback, enhancing community safety and satisfaction.
• Scalable and advanced technology integration: Potential for future expansions and integrations with other municipal services and technologies.
This project not only delivered substantial benefits in terms of cost savings and environmental impact but also demonstrated the effectiveness of Telensa’s technology in transforming urban infrastructure to meet modern demands.