Designing and implementing outdoor and street lighting with LED lights is an important part of the modern urban landscape. It not only improves safety and visibility, but also creates a welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike.
As a professional in this field, I’ve seen a wide range of projects succeed and face challenges, so I want to share with you some tips and advice that may be useful for your own lighting project.
This is part of a series of articles where we discuss the benefits of Led lighting for outdoor and street lighting
Design and implementation of outdoor and street lighting with LED: Tips and guidelines
First, it is important to consider what the objectives are for outdoor and street lighting: should it support the architectural appearance or focus more on energy efficiency? What about aesthetics – what kind of atmosphere do you want to create in different areas?
These decisions will have a major impact on the type of LED lights that should be considered for use. In what follows, I will draw on my experience to present some good practices and considerations so that you can make an informed choice about the most suitable LED lights for your project.
Benefits of switching to LED lighting
Benefits of LED lighting
Outdoor and street lighting with LEDs has many advantages over traditional lighting.
Sustainability
One of the main advantages is the durability of LEDs, which means longer life and less maintenance.
LEDs also consume less energy than incandescent lamps or fluorescent tubes, for example, making them more environmentally friendly and economically viable.
Security
Another important benefit is improved safety: the LED lights produce high-quality light that helps to detect pedestrians, obstacles and other objects more easily in the dark.
This will reduce the risk of road accidents for both pedestrians and vehicles.
Better lighting is also more effective in fighting crime, as it creates a safer environment for people to stay and move around in the evening and at night.
Assessment of outdoor and street lighting needs
Now that we’ve gone through the many benefits of LED lighting, it’s time to move on to the next step and assess our outdoor and street lighting needs. This process allows us to ensure that we take into account all important aspects – including lighting safety and aesthetic design.
When assessing outdoor and street lighting needs, the specific needs and challenges of these areas must be identified as a priority. Lighting safety is of course one of the most important factors: sufficiently strong and well-placed light helps prevent collisions in the dark and improves people’s sense of safety.
Aesthetic design also includes the comfort of the inhabitants; the right light colour, intensity and distribution create a pleasant atmosphere, both on the streets and in parks.
Choose the right LED luminaires and styles
When choosing lighting solutions, it is important to consider the safety and suitability of LED lights for different applications. To ensure LED safety, you should only buy high-quality products from reliable suppliers who comply with industry standards and regulations. Also make sure that the installation work is carried out professionally and that the electrical work is done properly.
In addition to the different types of LED luminaires, the colour options also contribute to the atmosphere and comfort of outdoor and street lighting. For example, a warm shade of white creates a pleasant ambience in seating areas, while a cooler white is more suitable for lighting traffic lanes or parking areas. Different coloured lights can also be used to highlight architectural details of buildings or other interesting features in the area.
Correct positioning and spacing of lights
When designing and implementing outdoor and street lighting, it is important to pay attention to the correct placement and spacing of lights. This ensures that the lighting is both efficient and aesthetically pleasing. Lighting safety and aesthetic solutions are key to this process.
Here are three key things to consider when positioning outdoor and street lights:
- Height of luminaires above ground level: the needs of each area will determine the optimum height for pole or wall-mounted LED lights. Upward light can cause disturbance to the surrounding nature, while lights that are too close to the ground may not provide enough power. In addition, the climate and the snow load that may cover the luminaires must be taken into account.
- Spacing between luminaires: the spacing between outdoor and street lights should be optimal depending on their intended use. For example, shorter distances on pedestrian routes can increase pedestrian safety even in dark weather, while longer distances on roadways may be sufficient.
- Placement of luminaires: the placement of luminaires should be designed so that they are in balance with each other and create a pleasant atmosphere in the surrounding area. The effect of reflection of light sources from different surfaces must also be taken into account.
These tips will help you achieve a better result when designing and implementing outdoor and street lighting with LED lights. Careful design ensures that the lights work safely and aesthetically correct for a long time, which is essential for quality public lighting.
Energy efficiency and cost savings
It’s time to explore the energy-saving and cost-reducing potential of LED lighting! You know that the right design and the use of quality components can help you make significant savings in both energy and money.
Outdoor and street lighting with LED lights really offers many advantages over traditional lighting: they are long-lasting, environmentally friendly and easy to maintain.
In addition to improving energy efficiency, LED lights also enable the use of various smart solutions for outdoor and street lighting. For example, dimmable and timed lights can adjust light output according to traffic or time of day, further reducing energy consumption and lowering costs – not to mention creating a more pleasant outdoor environment for our urban landscape.
These innovative solutions are definitely worth considering as part of your overall outdoor and street lighting plan.
Points to consider for maintenance of LED lighting
Careful attention must be paid to thermal management, as overheating of LED lights can cause damage and accelerate wear and tear. So get and use ONLY LED luminaires with a good aluminium heat sink.
LED lights have a higher starting current than other light sources, so energy efficiency depends largely on how the lights are adjusted.
When replacing components, remember that LED lights have a longer lifespan, and proper maintenance and repair can extend the life of the light. In 90% of cases, the power supply will fail first and therefore the luminaire should have an easily replaceable power supply.
Heat management
Thermal management is not only theoretical, it is an essential part of the design and implementation of outdoor and street lighting with LED lights. Why can’t LEDs withstand heat? – is a common question.
Temperature has a significant impact on light efficiency and lifetime, so finding the right solutions for heat management is important for optimising lighting.
For example, using good heat sinks or suitable installation methods can ensure that luminaires work optimally at higher temperatures and do not lose power due to excessive heat. We also answer the question: why does the LED strip need an aluminium profile?
By implementing these things professionally, we can guarantee our customers a long life for their LED lighting solution, as well as an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly end result.
Power saving
In addition to thermal management, another important factor to consider when maintaining LED lighting is power saving.
As we know, in outdoor and street lighting, energy efficiency and minimising electricity consumption are key to sustainable development.
Such lighting solutions often use smart solutions and innovative lighting technologies that allow for lower energy consumption without compromising on light output.
Thanks to modern LED lights, we can implement versatile and efficient lighting solutions that can achieve significant savings in both energy and maintenance costs.
Part of our professional work is to find just the right solutions for both heat management and power savings in different locations.
Taking these considerations into account will help ensure our customers a long life for their LED lighting solution, as well as an energy efficient and environmentally friendly end result.
Replacement of components
While thermal management and power savings are important considerations when maintaining LED lighting, we must not forget the importance of component replacement. As mentioned earlier, driver light LED light is the part that usually fails first and should be easily replaceable.
It is important to understand that the safety and efficiency of LED lights depend not only on the right smart lighting solutions, but also on the use of quality components and their replacement as needed.
As designers and installers of outdoor and street lighting with LED lights, we always strive to ensure that the systems installed for our customers consist of the best possible components and easy-to-maintain construction, so that any failures or breakdowns can be repaired quickly and easily.
This way we can guarantee a long life for their investment, while minimising disruption to street lighting or other illuminated areas.
Environmental impact and sustainable development
Imagine walking at night under the glow of street lighting that not only creates a safe and pleasant environment, but is also environmentally sustainable. With LED lights, this vision can be turned into reality.
Ecosystem impacts and green building principles are key elements in the design and implementation of outdoor and street lighting.
LED technology offers many benefits that contribute to the well-being of the environment:
- Energy efficiency: the efficient energy consumption of LED lamps significantly reduces electricity demand compared to conventional light sources.
- Long life: LED lights last much longer than conventional lamps, reducing the amount of waste material.
- Less negative impact on nature: since LED lights do not contain mercury or other harmful substances, their use improves our ecosystem.
By taking these factors into account at every stage – from design to installation – we can achieve lighting that is both functionally and aesthetically pleasing, while being environmentally friendly.
Therefore, the use of LEDs in outdoor and street lighting is not only a trend of the future, but also a sustainable solution for designers and implementers, and for all of us on the planet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the potential health effects of LED lighting on humans and animals, especially in outdoor and street lighting?
The potential health impacts of LED lighting on humans and animals, particularly in outdoor and street lighting applications, are important to consider in design and implementation.
The effects of lighting can be harmful to both humans and animals if it is not properly optimised. Too bright or bluish light can cause glare, vision loss and sleep disturbances. It can also negatively affect animal behaviour and reproduction.
Improving the energy efficiency of lighting is one solution to reduce these negative impacts. Advanced LED lights offer even better light output with lower energy consumption, helping to reduce their environmental impact.
As a designer and installer of outdoor and street lighting, our job is to find the balance between efficient lighting, human well-being and the values of nature. To achieve this, systems such as dimmable light sources can be used to adjust the intensity and colour tones of the lighting as required. In this way, we can ensure that LED lighting is healthy for both humans and animals, while saving energy and reducing our environmental impact.
Are there specific rules or guidelines to follow when using LED lighting in public spaces such as streets, parks and commercial areas?
When implementing LED lighting in public spaces such as streets, parks and commercial areas, it is important to follow specific regulations and guidelines. This ensures LED sustainability and minimises the environmental impact.
As a designer and installer of outdoor and street lighting with LED lights, you will need to be familiar with local regulations as well as international recommendations on light source efficiency, colour temperature, glare prevention and habitat requirements.
By following these guidelines, you can create a safe and comfortable lighting environment for people and animals, while taking into account energy-saving and ecological considerations.
How can LED lighting be integrated with smart city technologies and IoT devices to create smarter and more responsive outdoor lighting systems?
The integration of LED lighting with smart city technology and IoT devices will enable the creation of more intelligent and responsive outdoor lighting systems. This will help reduce light pollution from LED lights and improve energy efficiency through a range of sensors and control systems.
For example, motion sensors can adjust lighting as needed, saving energy and reducing costs. Intelligent control systems can also be used to monitor and control lighting in real time, allowing maintenance work to be carried out more efficiently.
Thus, using smart city and IoT solutions for outdoor and street lighting will help us design more sustainable, safer and more pleasant environments for all.
What are some examples of successful outdoor and street lighting projects or case studies that can serve as inspiration for our own implementation?
Successful examples of LED outdoor and street lighting projects that can serve as inspiration for our own implementation include the Barcelona Smart Lighting project, which combined energy efficiency improvements with the benefits of LED technology to create dynamic and sustainable urban lighting.
Another shining example is Los Angeles’ major LED street lighting modernisation, which resulted in significant energy savings and reduced carbon emissions.
These case studies demonstrate the potential of LED technology in the design and implementation of outdoor and street lighting with LED lights, while achieving high quality light for residents and improved safety in areas.
How do different weather conditions such as rain, snow or extreme temperatures affect the performance and lifetime of LED lights in outdoor and street lighting applications?
Different weather conditions, such as rain, snow or extreme temperatures, can affect the performance and lifetime of LED lights in outdoor and street lighting applications.
LEDs are generally more durable than conventional light sources, but weather-related challenges need to be taken into account when designing lights.
Weatherproof structures help protect luminaires from moisture and corrosion and ensure a long life even in harsh conditions.
To achieve a reliable and efficient outdoor and street lighting solution for different weather conditions, it is worth investing in high-quality, tested materials and proper installation and maintenance.
Conclusion
Finally, we should take into account the potential health effects of LED lights on humans and animals and comply with regional regulations when implementing outdoor and street lighting.
It is also important to understand the impact of weather on the performance and lifetime of lights.
By harnessing smart city technology and IoT devices, we can create more intelligent and responsive outdoor lighting solutions.
We draw inspiration from successful example projects to ensure that our own implementations are effective and sustainable.
If you found this article interesting, you might also like the other parts of the series:
Design and implementation of outdoor and street lighting with LED lights – Tips and advice
Intelligent street lighting and other lighting technologies – Application to urban lighting
Led lighting is familiar to us
LedStore has been an expert in LED lighting and lighting design since 2010. We have our own product design, so our products are technologically state-of-the-art. Products have quarantee for up to 7 years. We also carry out lighting maintenance.
We focus on temperature-controlled and high colour rendering lights, so they work brilliantly and last a long time. We do around 500 lighting designs for our clients’ sites. Read more here or order a lighting design
We offer a service of custom-made led strips, i.e. custom-made led strips in aluminium profile. Also installed. Did you know? LedStore offers lighting design from 99 euros for the whole house!
Remember that we are always ready to offer our help to you along the way, by email (myynti@ledstore.fi) and by phone (045 251 4510). As always, feel free to share photos of your own projects on social media at ledstore.fi at Instagram and ledstore.fi at Meta. We love to see the cool things done by our LEDs, and it also helps to provide inspiration for those who are not sure about the power and awesomeness of LEDs. Did you know that we already have over 3500 pictures of our LED installations in our Gallery!
Photo gallery of Led lights:
Product gallery: Pictures of products in different installation locations
Indirect light: Indirect light in different spaces
Room-specific: Light in different rooms
References: Complete houses that have been photographed
