A Paradox of LED Road Lighting: Reducing Light Pollution Is Not Always Linked to Energy Savings

Irena Fryc, Maciej Listowski, Christophe Martinsons, Jiajie Fan and Dariusz Czyżewski ()
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Irena Fryc: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45d, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Maciej Listowski: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45d, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Christophe Martinsons: CSTB, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment, Division Acoustique, Vibrations, Eclairage et Electromagnétisme, Saint Martin d’Heres, 75016 Paris, France
Jiajie Fan: Institute of Future Lighting, Academy for Engineering & Technology, Fudan University, and Shanghai Research Center for Silicon Carbide Power Devices Engineering & Technology, Shanghai 200433, China
Dariusz Czyżewski: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Pl. Politechniki 1, 00-661 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: A variety of LED types can be employed for street and road lighting purposes. White phosphor-converted LEDs represent the most widely used option. However, amber LEDs are increasingly being used to reduce some negative effects associated with light pollution. These LEDs can be manufactured using both phosphor-converted and monochromatic direct chip technologies. This paper addresses the link between the reduction in short-wavelength light emissions which contribute to sky glow and the energy efficiency of LED-based road lighting. This paper focuses on an example illustrating the common misconception that reducing light pollution also means saving energy. Through the consideration of how spectral power distribution influences both mesopic vision and the amount of emitted blue light, it has been concluded that while monochromatic direct amber LEDs consume more energy than their white or amber phosphor-converted counterparts, their use in outdoor lighting is justifiable due to their potential effects of reducing sky brightness.

Keywords: street lighting; LEDs; energy consumption; light pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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