Connected lighting and the energy transition in cities

Commitments made through the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate Energy (GCoM) and the C40 Cities underline the key role of cities in transforming formal agreements into real action. Cities can institute and build on changes quickly, especially with the support of national and international entities, which can provide financial and logistical support to power innovation.

Innovative urban planning, waste management, and energy efficiency in cities represent a tangible path towards helping cities achieve their net zero goals. According to the GCoM 2023 annual Impact Report, 7,183 cities and local governments reported more than 200,000 actions that:

• Mitigate GHG emissions
• Address climate hazards
• Assess climate risk
• Measure the ability of cities to adapt basic services and
• Governance to climate change
• Provide access to secure, affordable, and sustainable energy

C40 is a global network of one hundred mayors of leading cities with the mission of using an inclusive, science-based, and collaborative approach to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and limit worldwide global warming to 1.5^o C. The C40 Leadership Standards 2021-20-2024 require that member cities:

• Adopt a climate action plan that aligns with the Paris agreement
• Deliver on the adopted climate action plan and cut emissions in half by 2030
• Use financial, regulatory, and other tools to address the climate crisis
• Integrate innovative actions that address emissions beyond the direct control of the city
• Demonstrate global climate leadership and encourage support for the Paris agreement

According to the C40 2022 annual report, 75% of the C40 cities have decreased per capita emissions at a faster rate than the countries in which they’re located. Member cities have formed regional partnerships to develop low-carbon building standards and to create decarbonized shipping corridors. Major cities have established low emission zones and participated in climate budgeting programs.

Examples of city initiatives highlight the significance of innovative technologies in mitigating climate change.

Chicago’s efforts date back to the 2008 Chicago Climate Action Plan and the Sustainable Chicago 2015 plan. The city’s sustainability council helps fulfill the mission of making the city “healthier, more livable, and more prosperous.” To align with the development of the national sustainability plans, the council set the 2015 goal of “improving citywide energy efficiency by 5%.” With this goal in place, Chicago’s leadership and technology teams designed the Smart Lighting Project.

The scope of the project involved replacing the majority of the city’s street lights with a smart LED street light system.  Project goals included saving energy, reducing costs, streamlining operations, enhancing public safety, and supporting economic growth.

City leaders of San Sebastian, Spain, relied on data analysis when considering the switch from traditional to intelligent street lighting systems. As a result, San Sebastian embarked on a mission to “reduce the city’s greenhouse emissions and improve the livability of the city’s public space,” and focused their efforts on:

• Partnering with financial institutions, the European Commission, manufacturers, and experts
• Evaluation, monitoring, risk management, operation, and maintenance
• Infrastructure and resources
• Improving energy efficiency and safety
• Lowering energy costs, CO₂ emissions, and maintenance costs
• Stakeholder and political support

The San Sebastian project included the replacement of older street lighting with a combination of LED luminaires, sensors, detection systems, audio systems for emergency warnings, and IoT-connected data management. Their street lights can dim or brighten according to presence detection, time of day, and period of the year. Weather sensors are designed to provide  road users with needed visibility during different weather conditions.

Greater Irbid, Jordan, has implemented the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) and approved participation in the EU-funded Cleaner Energy Saving Mediterranean Cities (CES-MED) project. Both efforts center on reducing energy consumption in all sectors through conservation and efficiency while promoting energy production through renewable energy sources. Project leaders began with a baseline emission inventory (BEI) that quantified the amount of CO₂ emitted during 2015 by municipal, tertiary, and residential buildings, public lighting, and private and commercial transportation.

The BEI data showed that 49% and 38% of greenhouse gas emissions occurred in residential and tertiary buildings, respectively. During the baseline year 2015, annual electrical energy consumption for the tertiary sector reached 571,973 MWh, or 50% of the total electricity consumption for the city. Efforts to begin decarbonizing the residential and tertiary sectors involved setting mandatory standards for household appliance energy efficiency and retrofitting buildings with new lighting systems, solar water heaters, insulation, and energy-efficient appliances.

For Chicago, San Sebastian, and Greater Irbid, connected LED lighting is a key to achieving energy efficiency and economic effectiveness. As the backbone of smart street lighting projects and green building initiatives, connected lighting can open a path to energy efficiency, tenant well-being, security, and reduction of carbon emissions. The addition of air quality sensors, motion detection, weather sensors produce data that cities can use for informed decision-making.

Chicago’s street lighting modernization project has already yielded impressive results. During 2021, the project saved the city $8.7 million by cutting energy expenditures by more than half. Based on those early results, Chicago expects to save $100 million in electricity costs from 2022 through 2032. Estimates indicate that the city will save 181,679,358 kWh annually and offset more than 134,600 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.