LED street lighting: Unburdening our cities
Each city is unique, defined not only by the individuals who call it home but also by the energy it exudes…and consumes. Projections indicate that 5 billion people (60% of the world’s population) will live in cities by 2050 and, according to the International Energy Agency, the overall demand for lighting will be 80% higher by 2030 than in 2005. Street lighting energy consumption is an increasingly significant part of cities energy use and a growing burden on municipal budgets. So, how can cities maintain this (growing) asset? Many cities around the world are implementing public lighting programs for two main reasons –economic growth and community safety. Public lighting supports economic growth by increasing the amount of time that people can spend on dining and entertainment after dark. At the same time, studies have shown that public lighting can reduce crime by up to 20% and traffic accidents by up to 35%. LED lighting benefits the environment and lo...