Villanúa, Huesca: a model of lighting renewal for the preservation of the natural environment in the Aragonese Pyrenees

VILLANÚA —30/5/2024— In an effort to preserve the natural beauty of the environment and promote sustainability, the municipality of Villanúa, located in the Aragonese Pyrenees in Huesca, has undergone a comprehensive transformation of its outdoor lighting system, replacing a thousand discharge luminaires (HPS and MH) with state-of-the-art LED lights. Among the installed solutions are classic models (Villa XLA), road (Enur L), or urban (Paseo A). With the collaboration of ATP Lighting, Villanúa has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to energy efficiency and environmental protection.

 

 

The documentary video included here details every aspect of the project through the voices of experts such as Susana Malón (Lumínica Ambiental), a physicist specialized in light and light pollution; Alfredo Gracia, the project’s technical engineer; Luis Terrén, mayor of Villanúa; María Béjar, councilor for the Environment of the Villanúa City Council; and Guillermo Redrado, vice president of ATP Lighting. Additionally, the residents of the municipality share their experiences with the new lighting.

 

A tourist municipality committed to environmental preservation

 

Villanúa, with its privileged location in the Aragón Valley, between Jaca and the ski resorts, is a renowned tourist destination in the High Pyrenees. With a population of around 500 inhabitants, the town experiences a significant increase in visitor influx during the peak season. This tourism flow, while beneficial to the local economy, also poses challenges in terms of preserving the natural environment and managing resources.

 

The lighting transformation of Villanúa:

Energy efficiency, light pollution reduction, and maximum visual comfort

 

The outdoor lighting renovation project in Villanúa aimed to improve energy efficiency, reduce light pollution, and preserve the beauty of the night sky, making the region a prominent spot for astronomical tourism.

 

The municipality calculated the percentage that its previous public lighting installation represented in its total carbon footprint. The results revealed that this application accounted for 62% of said footprint, making it a key element to address. With the adoption of state-of-the-art LED luminaires, Villanúa has achieved significant energy savings, reducing outdoor lighting energy consumption by more than 70%.

 

The new luminaires not only provide more efficient light but also enhance the visual comfort of residents and visitors through the implementation of the Comfort Diffuser®, an innovation patented by ATP to mitigate LED glare and improve uniformity. Additionally, reducing the percentage of blue light in the new lighting spectrum helps control light pollution, maintain natural circadian rhythms, and preserve local biodiversity.

 

Benefits of the new ultra-warm color temperature and blue light reduction

 

Villanúa's new lighting features an ultra-warm color temperature (CCT) of 2200 K. The 2200 K temperature from ATP emits a spectral blue light flux of only 1.28% (wavelengths below 440 nm), contributing to the preservation of the night sky darkness in a sensitive area like the Aragonese Pyrenees.

 

It is important to note that the same warm color temperature can have differences in the blue spectral component percentage of up to 45%, depending on the manufacturer. ATP ensures that its ultra-warm color temperatures, like 2200 K, have the lowest blue light indexes on the market. Moreover, ATP’s 2200 K achieves a true and natural color rendering, with a color rendering index above 70.

 

Reducing blue tones in the light spectrum helps preserve natural circadian rhythms and minimizes interference with the nocturnal ecosystem. As a result, Villanúa experiences a more harmonious and welcoming nighttime environment, promoting a healthy balance between urban life and the surrounding nature.

 

Eliminating the risk of electrostatic discharges (ESD) to ensure the durability and reliability of luminaires

 

A notable aspect of the Villanúa project is the attention given to preventing electrostatic discharges (ESD). Since Class II luminaires do not have grounding, electrostatic charge tends to accumulate on the outer surfaces of the chassis and diffusers. If this charge reaches a certain limit, it discharges into the luminaire's interior. This discharge or spark from the exterior to the interior can only occur through a conductive material, such as metal, and can cause the LED module and/or electronic equipment to malfunction.

 

In the Aragonese Pyrenees region, there was a recurring problem with overvoltages caused by such discharges, which damaged drivers and caused operational issues in luminaires with metal enclosures. To address this challenge, the ATP luminaires used in this project are made from insulating technical polymers and have no conductive parts that would allow ESD to reach the luminaire's electronic elements. Therefore, the installed luminaires are completely immune to ESD, as the discharge or spark from the exterior to the interior can only occur through a conductive material, such as metal. This measure provides a reliable and long-lasting lighting solution.

 

Mountain climate resistance and corrosion immunity

 

The weather resistance of ATP light fixtures has also been crucial in Villanúa, as the mountain climate brings especially harsh and aggressive conditions for lighting. ATP's exclusive polymeric materials exhibit extraordinary durability against degradation from exposure to atmospheric agents such as heavy rain, storms, hail, snow, or ice. Additionally, it is worth highlighting that the corrosion immunity of these materials makes the new luminaires resistant to the use of salt for combating ice, an agent that is particularly destructive to metal light fixtures.

 

 

Starlight certification and positive impact on the community and natural environment

 

The change in the lighting system has had a notable impact on the quality of life of Villanúa's inhabitants. In addition to increased safety and comfort, residents highlight the aesthetic improvement of the streets and the reduction of light pollution, allowing for better appreciation of the night sky and easier observation of celestial bodies.

 

Furthermore, the project was carried out to strictly comply with the criteria for obtaining Starlight sky quality certification, reinforcing Villanúa's position as a sustainable tourist destination and opening new opportunities for astronomical tourism and activities related to observing the night sky.

 

The weather resistance of ATP light fixtures has also been crucial in Villanúa, as the mountain climate brings especially harsh and aggressive conditions for lighting. ATP's exclusive polymeric materials exhibit extraordinary durability against degradation from exposure to atmospheric agents such as heavy rain, storms, hail, snow, or ice. Additionally, it is worth highlighting that the corrosion immunity of these materials makes the new luminaires resistant to the use of salt for combating ice, an agent that is particularly destructive to metal light fixtures.

 

A continued commitment to sustainability and innovation

 

The success of the lighting renewal in Villanúa is a testament to the community's commitment to sustainability and innovation. "With the collaboration of ATP Lighting, the municipality has established an exemplary standard in responsible resource management and the preservation of the natural environment," said Guillermo Redrado, vice president of ATP.

 

"This transformation project is a model to follow for other communities, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in the search for sustainable solutions to current environmental challenges," he concluded.