Reduction in electricity consumption when Helsingborg put dimmers on its street lighting

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beST PrACTICe eXAMPLeS enerGY eFFICIenCY KLIMP – CLIMATe InVeSTMenT PrOGrAMMe

FebrUArY 2011

Photograph: Stefan Lindblom/helsingborgs-bild

reduction in electricity consumption

when helsingborg put dimmers on

its street lighting

When the City of Helsingborg reduced the voltage in 10,000 street luminaires, it also reduced its electricity consumption by 10% – without the city being felt to have become darker.

At dusk the municipality’s just over 26,000 street luminaires light up as usual. But in nearly half the street luminaires the voltage is gradually reduced from 230 to 175 Volts during the night when few people are out and about. As a result, electricity consumption decreases by around 10 percent. In the morning, when more people are on the move, the voltage rises again. The reduced lighting is considered to be barely noticeable.

Helsingborg’s installation of dimmers in the street lighting is an example of best practice showing how it is possible to save electricity and at the same time preserve the sense of security on the city’s streets. Unlike other saving efforts, this is an action that the public seem to accept.

Advanced dimmers were installed in 140 electricity substations during the period 2005–2007. The project was implemented with grants from the climate investment programme Klimp.

PositiVE EnVironmEntaL anD Economic imPacts

• Electricity consumption has decreased by nearly 1 GWh per year with virtually no loss of lighting.

• The lower voltage increases the service life of the light sources and with an esti-mated saving of around SEK 100,000 per year.

• It is estimated that the investment in dimmers will pay for itself in a few years thanks to the lower electricity costs.

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information facts

beST PrACTICe eXAMPLeS enerGY eFFICIenCY KLIMP – CLIMATe InVeSTMenT PrOGrAMMe

FebrUArY 2011 ISbn: 978-91-620-8544-5 imPLEmEntation The equipment for voltage regulation was installed in 140 substations for street lighting in Helsingborg. The system makes it possible to dim the light-ing between 8 pm and 5 am in places where the need for light varies during the night. The voltage is then reduced from 230 to 175 Volts, which reduces electric-ity consumption by 10% without a noticeable deterioration in light yield. The electricity saving proved to be greater than anticipated as more saving-efficient substations were chosen and the time for power transmission was also increased. This equipment is now being installed in an expansion to new areas in cases where the potential for savings is considered to be great.

An important aspect is that the public regard the system as safe and secure. According to the Swedish Energy Agency, the aspects of safety and security must always precedence over aspirations to reduce electricity consumption.

PotEntiaL anD fUtUrE BEnEfit

Energy efficiency of lighting is an extensive and clear need globally. The fact that many countries are phasing out energy-guzzling lighting and introducing various kinds of need-based control is driving the shift in technology in the area of light- ing. The combination of better light fixtures, new light sources and the possibil-ity of controlling and dimming the lighting opens up the possibility of making significant savings. There is great potential for similar projects, and the potential can be transferred to other county councils, municipalities or countries.

whY beST PrACTICe

The project has shown that dimmed street luminaires do not look less bright than street luminaires that are not dimmed, which the public find reassuring. The project is therefore innovative and has solved a problem in the area of energy efficiency. The good results contribute to enabling the municipality to transfer the technology to new areas. Other municipalities have also shown an interest in the method. FOr FUrTher InFOrMATIOn

Contact:

björn Johansson, City Planning Administration, Municipality of helsingborg,

+46 (0)42-10 60 60, bjorn.johansson@helsingborg.se

Anneli Gille, environmental Administration, Municipality of helsingborg,

046-10 50 00, anneli.gille@helsingborg.se Contractors/providers:

SweCO was the project manager.

Öresundskraft Ab purchased and installed the equipment.wagfors Ab supplied the technology.

The project on the Internet: www.helsingborg.se/medborgare/ bo-bygga-och-miljo/

For further information on best Practice: www.naturvardsverket.se/mir

www.swedishepa.se/bestpractice FACTS

Klimp helsingborg 2003 Action 13

environmental investment: SeK 8.7m Grant: SeK 2.6m