Public Lighting at the Heart of the Energy Crisis

Ubiquitous in our daily lives, urban lighting ensures our safety and comfort both day and night. Whether on roads, in parking lots, parks, gardens, or town centers, lighting supports all our movements, urban or rural. But there's a dark side to this bright picture: public lighting consumes a lot of energy.

The Hidden Cost of Our Bright Streets

With energy prices on the rise, public lighting now accounts for an average of 41% of a municipality’s electricity use and 37% of its electricity bill. In some cases, especially in rural areas, it can exceed 50% of the total bill. This has become a growing concern for towns and villages striving to embrace energy sobriety.

This rise in energy spending is also due to the overconsumption tied to outdated lighting systems. In France, nearly 75% of public lighting infrastructure is over 25 years old, leading not only to excessive energy consumption but also to high maintenance costs and a significant ecological impact, particularly on biodiversity.

In response to the spike in electricity prices during the winter of 2022, many local authorities chose to partially switch off streetlights at night to reduce costs. While effective in the short term, this measure raises concerns about public safety and the attractiveness of city spaces. Thankfully, alternative solutions and innovations now make it possible to reduce energy use while maintaining quality lighting options that could be integrated into modern lighting strategies.

Lighting Renovation: A Key Solution to Energy Challenges

According to the French National Federation of Local Authorities (FNCCR), renovating and modernizing lighting infrastructure could cut energy, maintenance, and operating costs by 75% to 80%. These savings are achievable by pairing energy-efficient LED lights with smart energy management systems.

Renovation has become the new imperative to curb public lighting expenses and achieve a sustainable ecological transition. While some municipalities are adopting LED lighting, others are going even further by turning to autonomous solar lighting systems, which consume no electricity at all. Not only do they meet environmental and biodiversity goals thanks to the use of renewable energy, but they also improve public safety by lighting key areas effectively.

As a result, the number of solar public lighting projects is steadily increasing. Municipalities have understood the value of investing in renewable energy to ensure their installations remain sustainable over the long term.