Lighting renewal in Teresa de Cofrentes with custom solutions: a leap in lighting quality, efficiency, and sustainability

TERESA DE COFRENTES —5/7/2024— Teresa de Cofrentes, a municipality in the Valencian Community committed to sustainable development and the improvement of its residents' well-being, has undertaken an ambitious public lighting renewal project. This initiative, focusing on replacing old induction and high-pressure sodium vapor (HPSV) lamps with modern, high-efficiency LED luminaires, has significantly improved urban lighting quality and energy consumption.

 

Technical challenges and innovative solutions

 

The project presented notable technical challenges due to the varied typology of the municipality's streets. Each section required a custom design, involving precise lighting calculations to ensure uniform and efficient illumination. Moreover, a manufacturer capable of producing customized luminaires with the optimal optics, power, and distributions recommended in the lighting study was necessary.

 

Despite these challenges, the result has been a substantial improvement in both energy savings and lighting quality. Ernesto Alventosa, the project engineer, explained, "The technical challenge in executing this project was primarily the diverse typology of the streets. Each section had to be custom-designed, which was a challenge in terms of lighting calculations and luminaire customization."

 

Before and now: a comprehensive transformation

 

The previous luminaires, based on induction and HPSV technology, provided irregular lighting and low uniformity, with power and light levels higher than required for effective lighting. These luminaires, therefore, were a notable source of light pollution. Additionally, they were made of metal and required high maintenance levels due to weather conditions, causing malfunctions and reducing their lifespan. This deficient lighting caused visibility and safety issues, negatively affecting residents' quality of life.

 

In contrast, the installation of ATP Lighting's Siglo XLA and Enur Micro luminaires, with LED technology and a warm color temperature with a low percentage of blue in their spectral radiance, has improved efficiency and effectively controlled light pollution. The new luminaires, made from immune to corrosion engineering-grade polymer, ensure a long lifespan and high resistance to adverse weather conditions, with a comprehensive 10-year warranty. Additionally, with the incorporation of the Comfort Diffuser®, these luminaires provide uniform lighting and reduce glare, significantly improving visual ease.

 

Energy and environmental impact

 

The energy efficiency of the new lighting system has relieved municipal finances: the overall power reduction achieved with the new LED luminaires exceeds 60% compared to the previous lighting. With a total of 373 light points, the total power of the new installation is 11.411 kW, down from over 30 kW in the old lighting scheme.

 

Regarding the carbon footprint, annual CO2 emissions have decreased from 32.70 tons to 11.23 tons, a reduction of over 65%:

 

0.246 kg of CO2 is emitted per kWh/year

 

Old installation:

 

33.23 kW x 4000 h/year = 132,924 kWh/year x 0.246 = 32.699 tons of CO2/year

 

Current installation:

 

11.41 kW x 4000 h/year = 45,644 kWh/year x 0.246 = 11.228 tons of CO2/year

 

Savings

 

65.60% in CO2 tons/year

 

Additionally, the new lighting fixtures have achieved high uniformity in street illumination, thanks to the combination of meticulous lighting design and custom manufacturing of luminaires. In the Town Hall square, uniformity has reached 71%; in Comandante Gonzálvez street, 66%; and in Calle del Medio, 64%. The average uniformity across all the streets involved exceeds 55%, ensuring adequate and consistent visibility throughout the municipality.

 

Project satisfaction and evaluation

 

Ernesto Alventosa, the project engineer, expressed his satisfaction with the new lighting and the collaboration with ATP Lighting: "It has been a special experience as it was the first project I carried out with the brand. I have been very satisfied, both with the quality of the technical assistance from ATP staff and the personalized attention, as well as with the final results of the project."

 

Commitment to sustainability

 

This project reinforces Teresa de Cofrentes' commitment to sustainability and the continuous improvement of the urban environment. The transition to a more  efficient and eco-friendly lighting system benefits residents in terms of safety and comfort, and contributes to environmental preservation by rationalizing energy consumption and controlling light pollution.