Public lighting - road to energy efficiency

Today, Europe rises towards challenge known as the “20-20-20” targets of “The 2020 climate and energy package”. Public lighting is one of those energy segments where energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions can be decreased, focusing on 20% improvement in the EU´s energy efficiency and 20% reduction in EU´s greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels. Public lighting in Croatia consumes up to 440.314.330 kWh annually. This represents 2,8% of Croatia´s total annual consumption. Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund promotes energy efficiency in public lighting in Croatia by announcing tenders and calls of proposals. Non-refundable financial aid is offered to municipalities in 40-80% of the eligible investment costs for reconstruction of public lighting systems or building new ones. Bearing in mind Fund´s “Three main targets” (energy efficiency, environmental protection and traffic safety), it is obvious that simple replacement of old lights with new ones isn´t acceptable. Public lighting, in terms of traffic safety, means meeting with minimal performance requirements of EN 13201 Standard. The Fund defines maximum acceptable performance requirements in terms of energy efficiency and environmental protection. Balancing between those targets represents a challenge in construction of new public lighting systems and an art in reconstruction of the old ones. This work discusses main challenges in planning (re)construction of public lighting, pointing towards problems and obstacles in tailoring ideal solutions for individual situations. Special attention is given to the details that make the difference between energy efficient public lighting and one that is energy efficient, environmentally acceptable and traffic safe.