Cities and municipalities around the world increasingly strive to become more energy-efficient and reduce their carbon footprint. LED street lighting has emerged as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional street lighting systems. LED street lights offer a range of benefits, including lower energy consumption, longer lifespan, and improved visibility and safety.
However, with so many options available on the market, choosing the right LED street light for a particular application can be daunting. In this article, we provide a complete guide to LED street lights, covering everything from the different types of LED street lights to their key features, benefits, and considerations for selecting and installing these innovative lighting systems.
What are LED Street Lights?
LED street lights are lighting fixtures designed to illuminate outdoor areas such as streets, highways, and parking lots. They use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as their light source, which are highly energy-efficient and can produce bright, high-quality light.
LED street lights have several advantages over traditional street lighting technologies such as high-pressure sodium lamps or metal halide lamps including:
- Energy-efficiency
- Longer lifespans
- Require less maintenance
- Better visibility and color rendering
Additionally, they can be controlled remotely, enabling operators to adjust their brightness and turn them on and off as needed.
Growing adoption of LED Street and Flood Lights in Australia
Australian councils, large brands and property owners are increasingly moving towards energy efficient solutions to lower carbon emissions and improving visibility while also saving time and money. This is why traditional street lights are being replaced by the much more energy efficient LED Street Lighting.
LED lights not only conserve energy, they also brighten up large areas which improves public safety with reduced risks of accidents and crime.
Types of Street Lights
There are 3 main types of LED Street Lights that leading LED suppliers like Light Planet offer. These include:
- LED Flood Lights: used to illuminate larger areas such as parking lots and outdoor sports fields. They are designed to be mounted on poles or walls and emit a wide beam of light that can be adjusted to different angles and coverage areas.
- Smart LED Street Lights: equipped with sensors and control systems that allow them to adjust their brightness or turn on and off depending on the time of day or traffic conditions. They can also be used to collect data on traffic and other environmental factors.
- Solar LED Street Lights: These are powered by solar panels and are an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option for lighting streets and public spaces in areas without access to grid electricity.
These are some of the most common types of LED street lights, but there are other variations available as well, such as high mast LED street lights and post top LED street lights. The choice of LED street light will depend on each individual requirement. To understand more about what lights are best for your specific needs, contact the expert team at Light Planet.
What are the key factors buyers should consider when purchasing Street Lights
When purchasing street lights, there are several key factors that buyers should consider to ensure they choose the right product for their needs. Here are some of the most important factors to consider:
- Energy efficiency: LED street lights are known for their high energy efficiency, and buyers should look for products that have high efficacy ratings. This means that the light output of the fixture is high relative to the amount of energy it consumes.
- Light output: The light output of the street light, also known as “lumens” is an important consideration, as it will determine how well-lit the area will be. Buyers should look for products that have the right light output for the specific application. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light.
- Lifespan and durability: The lifespan and durability of the street light are important factors to consider, as these will affect maintenance costs over time. Buyers should look for products that have a long “life hours” and are built to withstand outdoor conditions, such as moisture and extreme temperatures.
- Beam angle – This refers to the angle at which light is emitted from the fixture. It determines the area that the light will illuminate and is an important consideration when selecting LED street lights.
- Cost: The cost of the street light is an important consideration, and buyers should compare prices from different suppliers to find a product that offers the best value for money. However, it is also important to consider the total cost of ownership over the lifespan of the product, including maintenance costs and energy consumption.
- Wattage – a measure of the power consumption of a street light, and it can make a significant difference to the performance and efficiency of the light. Generally, higher wattage street lights will produce more light than lower wattage lights, but they will also consume more power. Looking for Street Lights that have “adjustable wattage” can be a great option so that you are only consuming the energy required for each specific requirement.
- Warranty and customer support: Buyers should look for products that come with a warranty and good customer support. This will ensure that if there are any issues with the product, they can be resolved quickly and efficiently.
By considering these factors, buyers can choose the right LED street lights for their needs, and ensure that they are energy-efficient, durable, compliant, and cost-effective over the long term.
LED Street Light accessories
When purchasing LED street lights, there are several accessories that buyers may want to consider to optimise performance and efficiency. Here are some of the most common LED street light accessories:
- Mounting brackets: Buyers should ensure that the LED street lights come with appropriate mounting brackets to ensure that they can be securely installed on poles or other structures.
- Photocells: These are sensors that detect the level of natural light and turn the street lights on or off accordingly. This can help to save energy and reduce operating costs.
- Dimming controls: LED street lights can be dimmed to reduce energy consumption and extend the lifespan of the light. Buyers may want to consider dimming controls that can be programmed to adjust the brightness of the lights based on the time of day or other factors.
- Motion sensors: These sensors detect motion and turn the lights on only when they are needed. This can help to save energy and improve security in areas where there is little or no pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Smart controls: LED street lights can be connected to a network and controlled remotely using a central management system. This can help to optimize energy consumption and reduce maintenance costs by allowing for remote monitoring and control of the lights.
- Surge protection devices: These devices protect the LED street lights from electrical surges caused by lightning or power outages. Surge protection devices can help to extend the lifespan of the lights and reduce the risk of damage or failure.
By selecting the right LED street light for your particular needs and ensuring proper installation and maintenance, you can benefit from improved visibility, safety, and energy efficiency while reducing your carbon footprint.
This guide has provided an overview on the main types of LED street lights, their key features and benefits, and the factors to consider when selecting and installing these lighting systems.
We trust this has provided you with a much more comprehensive understanding of LED street lights and will help you to make a more informed decision. Should you want to speak to an LED lighting expert at anytime, one of the trusted team at Light Planet are always happy to assist.
