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.
Results:
The adoption of Telensa’s CMS has delivered transformative benefits to LCC. It enabled significant energy and cost savings, helping to reduce carbon emissions by 84% over 12 years. The system’s flexibility facilitated a rapid response to emergency situations, maintaining public safety and enhancing community satisfaction. Financially, the CMS allowed LCC to optimize its energy budget further, while socially and politically, it enabled the council to manage public expectations and safety requirements effectively.
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.