What is LED Street Light?
An LED street light is an integrated light that uses light emitting diodes (LED) as its light source. In the past, LED lights were primarily used in home appliances and sports scoreboards, but their use has now expanded to street lighting. Compared to traditional lighting, LED street lights are highly efficient, environmentally friendly, controllable, and smart. Thus they have gained increasing popularity in urban roads, expressways, airports, and gas stations. For cities looking to reduce energy costs and promote sustainability, LED street lighting is a perfect solution.
Today, major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Toronto, have already made the switch to LED street lights, with many others following suit. Portugal is currently a massive program that is expected to replace all traditional street lights with LEDs.
Why People Prefer LED Street Lights?
We cannot deny that LED street lights have already gained popularity. Cities like Los Angeles declare that they are replacing 140,000 street lights into LED ones. And Pittsburgh says it is considering doing the same with 40,000 LED street lights. After all, LED street lights have great advantages over other street lights, LED street lights are the most energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient lighting alternative in the market.
In general, LED street lights consume up to 80% less energy than incandescent, halogen or fluorescent lights, last up to twice as long as typical HPS streetlights, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintenance costs, and have pricing that are competitive with the market. Compared with traditional street lights (such as the most commonly used HPS), LED street lights have great advantages. In fact, switching all streetlights in the US to LEDs may result in energy cost savings of up to $6 billion. They will also get a yearly reduction of 40 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Brighter and Safer
To illuminate your street, LED street lights are bright enough to improve road conditions. They start up quickly without any lag in cold weather, unlike incandescent or fluorescent lights that can take a long time to warm up. These definitely contribute much to keeping drivers alert, pedestrians safe, and reducing crime rates in dark, remote areas.
Higher Energy Efficient
LED street lights, with minimal heat emissions, require less power to produce the same amount of light. They are twice as energy-efficient as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and use only 15% of the energy of an incandescent bulb while generating more light per watt. Communities can save money on energy bills and lessen their carbon footprint by adopting LED street lights.
Longer Lifespan
The extraordinarily extended lifespan of LED street lighting is one of their benefits. Theoretically, LED bulbs have a 30X longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs and can last three to five times longer than fluorescent lighting. So they are ideal for locations where changing light bulbs is expensive, inconvenient, or challenging.
Fewer Emissions
LED street lights are preferred as a way to reduce carbon emissions because of their high energy efficiency and extended lifespan. According to World Bank, switching to LED outdoor lighting in the US alone can reduce carbon emissions by the same amount as lifting 49 million automobiles off the road for an entire year. Further, LED street lights can be self-sufficient with solar panels, and even feed back extra energy into the power system.
Save Your City Money
LED lighting is still expensive upfront compared to traditional street lighting, however, over time, the energy costs, the maintenance fees, the electricity bills and even the facilities for specific environmental treatment, the city save will spilt the bills and help the environment. At the same time, as LED lighting becomes more popular, the prices are dropping to fit the demand! Over the past two years, costs of LED street light systems have decreased by as much as 50 percent.
Smart Control System
With intelligent management, LED street lights enable group control and may track traffic and modulate lighting as necessary. Some places with this system can give out alert when a light requires maintenance or becomes brighter as a pedestrian passes by.
Are LED Street Lights Harmful？
Disadvantage
For cities and districts looking to save energy and save expenses, LED street lighting have grown to be a popular option. Yet, there may be unfavorable consequences to take into account. Because of its intense concentration and high blue content, LED street light will glare. Under glare, drivers can’t see well enough while driving. In addition, blue light disturbs circadian cycles, impairs sleep, and even has a negative effect on nocturnal species that prefers darker environments.
However, none of the factors or health issues mentioned are particular to LEDs. In reality, every traditional lighting technology utilized for street lighting, including mercury vapor, metal halide, fluorescent, and induction, has drawbacks. Nevertheless, people have figured out ways to minimize these risks and live healthy lives with such street and roadway lighting that has dominated the streets for many years.
Suggestions
The American Medical Association (AMA) has published recommendations on how cities may embrace LED street lights in order to reduce any negative impacts on human health and the environment.
(1) The AMA is in favor of a suitable switch to community-based LED lighting, which uses fewer fossil fuels and consumes less energy.
(2) AMA advises employing the least amount of blue light emission to reduce glare and to minimize and manage blue-rich environmental illumination.
(3) The AMA recommends using illumination with a 3000K or lower color temperature for exterior installations like roads. All LED lighting should be appropriately shielded to reduce glare and negative effects on people and the environment. Besides, consideration should be made to using LED lighting’s capacity to be lowered during off-peak hours.
As a result, many nations have developed additional LED street light solutions to reduce these possible risks. Adding blue light filters to LED streetlights, as one example. Like with earlier lights, the resulting light would be yellow, and it would be less dangerous for both nocturnal species and people in general. A filter would, however, reduce the lamp’s effectiveness.
Besides, as Devon Council will be experimenting with, LED street lights can be dimmed during periods of low traffic. The council claims that replacing the older street lamps will result in a 75% reduction in carbon emissions, and based on their research on wildlife, Devon will lower its lights at dusk when there is little traffic.
Overall, switching to white LED street lights has been found to increase driving safety while reducing the quantity of CO2 emitted during the energy production process. But the authorities must also take into account the health, both physically and mentally, of residents who live close to white LED street lights.
How Much LED Street Lights Cost?
Due to their cost savings and increased energy efficiency over conventional lighting sources, LED street lights are growing in popularity. However, the costs of LED streetlights varies depending on factors such as location, type of lighting and pole, labor costs, energy costs, and maintenance costs. These factors should be considered when evaluating the exact expenses for LED street lights.
Factors that affect LED street light costs
Location
The cost of LED streetlights can vary significantly depending on the region, with labor and equipment costs being the most significant contributors. Even the price of the bulbs can vary depending on the location.
Type of lighting and pole
The cost of LED street lights can vary depending on factors such as the brand, material, height, diameter, and design of the pole, as well as the wattage and color temperature of the LED bulbs. Higher wattage bulbs and taller poles can increase the cost.
Labor costs
Labor costs vary depending on region and type of service required. For example, the cost of replacing bulbs is generally lower than installing new poles and lighting.
Energy costs
LED street lights are energy-efficient and have lower operating costs than traditional lighting options. But the cost of electricity can vary depending on the location and time of use. Generally, the average cost of LED street lights is $0.005 per day.
Maintenance costs
Maintenance costs include expenses such as repairs, replacements, and regular maintenance. LED bulbs generally require less maintenance than traditional options. But the cost of repairs can vary depending on the type of service required and the location of the street lights.
Costs of Purchasing LED Street Lights
The cost of purchasing a cost-effective street light includes the cost of the light, the pole, and the installation. Total costs are estimated to range from $3,000 to $4,000. The price of each LED street light ranges from $100 to $200, mainly depending on the brand you purchase. These lights are more expensive than sodium and halogen lamps, but they are higher qualified. Besides, they have near-zero maintenance costs over their 10-year lifespan. Moreover, the cost of a streetlight pole may be between $2,000 and $3,000, and the installation cost is around $1,000, depending on the location.
Costs of Replacing LED Street Lights
Before considering the cost of streetlights, it’s important to know the cost of replacing them. If you already have streetlights, you must figure out how much it will cost to remove them. Remember that replacing and disposing of streetlights can be costly, so be prepared to spend money. The following equation will help you estimate the cost of replacing a streetlight:
Cost of replacing streetlights = cost of light bulbs + truck rental + lift rental + wages for at least 2 workers
The cost for each item is approximately $800, but in most cases, the replacement cost may be much higher. Therefore, you should budget accordingly. In most cases, the cost of lighting ranges from $2,000 to $4,000.
Costs of Installing LED Street Lights
Installing streetlights requires both labor and installation costs. A streetlight pole is estimated to cost between $2,000 and $3,000. In most cities, the installation cost is often over $1,000. However, if your project is a bridge or a highway, expect to spend an additional 20%. This is because the purchase cost of labor and lifting platforms is high. In addition, the installment fee for a streetlight also varies according to the kind and strength of the lighting. For instance, installation costs for a 100W LED streetlight will cost you at least $110.
Costs of Operating LED Street Lights
You must be aware of the expense of maintenance after installing streetlights. Let’s consider a 1-kilometer long, two-lane highway with poles spaced 40 meters apart. There should be using 100W LED streetlights. Therefore, the average electricity cost should be around $0.12 per kW/h. Keep in mind that the operating cost of the 40 LED lights in operation is $0.48 per hour, or approximately $5.76 per day if they operate for 12 hours, or $172.8 per month.
How LED Street Lights Work Smartly to Save Money?
LED lighting have come a long way since they were first introduced to the world. While the use of high-efficiency LED lighting has become more common, there are still many countries that still rely on traditional lights. Some of them are intimidated by the high initial cost of LED street lighting. However, LED street lights are not only an energy-efficient solution but also an excellent way to save money and reduce operating costs.
Save Money with LED Street Lights
Replacing old street lights with LED street lights is a long-term money-saving project for the following reasons:
- LED lights generally consume much less power than comparable lamps, which means that replacing them instantly increases the energy efficiency of your lighting solution by 75%. You can even save more money by expanding the coverage area of the LED lights.
- Plus, LEDs has a longer lifespan up to 100,000 hours, which is more than 40X longer than incandescent bulbs.
- LEDs are also solid and durable, which means you will need to buy fewer bulbs and spend less on maintenance, resulting in long-term cost savings.
- Moreover, LEDs are less expensive to operate and have a better Color Rendering Index (CRI) than conventional lighting. This makes objects appear “brighter” and more visible.
- Last not least, LED light sources produce less heat, start up quickly, operate on low voltage, and are safe and suitable for various applications, including outdoor use, or can be customized to meet your specific needs.
Smart Control of LED Street Lighting
LED street lights can be linked to smart systems through wireless technologies like Bluetooth for remote management. Different lighting schemes can be customized, and the lights can be remotely controlled for on/off and dimming. Smart dimming systems can even collaborate with other departments to extend the lighting time and brightness in busy areas. It is convenient for people while improving the efficiency of the street lights and achieving cost savings. In contrast, other lights are actually less efficient and some cannot be dimmed at all, resulting in wastage from running at full power constantly.
Optimal Layout for LED Street Lights
Optimizing the layout of LED street lights is crucial. This means using the most appropriate pole size, distance, and quantity to achieve cost savings while ensuring even lighting and clear visibility. Typically, there is a standard distance of 29 meters between poles, calculated based on precise measurements of pole height and the area to be lit, usually marked at 2.5 times the height of the pole. Precise spacing makes lighting on the street more uniform, but in many places, the spacing between poles is not exact. Some poles may be spaced 29 meters apart while others may be spaced 50 meters apart, depending on the street’s architecture. There may not be many reasons to illuminate a space if there are no nearby homes or businesses.
How LED Street Light Control System Work Automatically?
Street lighting control adjusts lighting in urban areas, roads, or individual lighting equipment to prevent unnecessary over-lighting. In this way, it can reduce energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and light pollution. Through a streetlight control system, we can remotely control thousands of lamps, instantly detect faulty lamps and issue alerts, improve the quality of life of residents while reducing costs. That’s why cities around the world are investing billions of dollars in smart street light system.
Why We Need Smart Street Lighting Control
Smart street control is a cost-effective, and sustainable way to automatically adjust streetlights through network connections. With outdoor lighting controllers, IoT devices, and/or sensors, LED street lights can save energy and costs. Specifically, smart streetlights have the following basic functions:
Lighting Control
remotely switch and dim streetlights across the project, light group, or individual lamps to conserve energy while ensuring basic lighting.
Situation Control
Set the working situation and control strategy of streetlights to achieve unattended operation.
Data Acquisition
Collect work voltage, current, accumulated power consumption, alarm information, etc. to the server. Analyze the feedback data from streetlights, generate maintenance alarms and data reports, and promptly inform relevant maintenance personnel.
Other Functions
extended cameras for monitoring road conditions, traffic management, and safety, and extended probes for urban environmental monitoring.
How Smart LED Street Lights Work
Through the Internet, smart street lights are conntected and controlled according to smart algorithms and inputs from external sensors. Such inputs include local sunrise/sunset time, daily light level timetable, pre-programmed lighting scenes, personnel presence, traffic and/or weather conditions.
To achieve this, traditional or LED streetlights are typically equipped with outdoor lighting controllers (OLCs). The controller’s main purpose is to send commands to and receive commands from the connected streetlights. These commands include on/off, dimming, scheduling, and maintenance messages.
Today, there are four different forms of streetlight controllers: Nema controllers, Zhaga controllers, luminaire installation controllers, and pole-mounted controllers. Currently, controllers based on Nema and Zhaga are more popular and widely used in cities because they support plug-and-play installation on the streetlight device. More and more new intelligent lighting projects are adopting the Zhaga D4i standard.
Future of Smart LED Street Lights
In the near future, the functions of smart system will no longer be limited to the field of streetlights. It will expand to more city construction fields, achieving more possibilities.
Traffic Control
The intelligent traffic control system uses traffic analyzers and classifiers to collect traffic analysis. Then it optimizes the traffic flow of vehicles and pedestrians. Dynamic interaction between traffic detectors and traffic signals allows traffic signals to adapt to congestion levels, weather conditions, accidents, or other events that may affect traffic flow.
Parking Lot Management
Parking space vacancy sensors installed on lamp posts track the occupancy of parking spaces and notify the control center. Then it can guide vehicles to unoccupied locations. This technology can also be used to monitor whether vehicles violate parking regulations and charge drivers for the length of time parked.
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental sensors monitor changes in air quality, atmospheric conditions, weather conditions, and temperature. These devices use communication devices in streetlights to send data to IoT platforms. It can also issue severe alerts to warn people of abnormal weather or potential dangers, such as rapidly moving tornadoes or forest fires.
Crime Deterrence
Streetlights equipped with IP cameras and recorders enable security departments to record, review, and monitor activities in areas with high crime rates.
Public Information
Smart streetlights can be equipped with LED screens that display public information, advertisements, and other digital content. This technology can also be used for emergency announcements and alerts.
How We Choose LED Street Lights?
LED road lighting is becoming increasingly popular, and the number of manufacturers has increased dramatically. So the task of choosing an LED light manufacturer more complex. So, what factors should we consider when choosing LED street light?
Choose a Reliable LED Street Light Manufacturer
Your location and your budget will influence the supplier you select. You may choose the best manufacturer of LED street lights by considering the following factors:
Production Line
This is a basic standard for evaluation. For example, you can check the assembly line to evaluate production capacity. You can also check aging testing equipment, IES testing equipment, and IK & IP testing equipment to evaluate quality control.
Experience
Suppliers should have at least 5 years of manufacturing experience and some successful projects.
Knowledge
LED road light manufacturers must have rich knowledge, including how to design LED road lights based on project requirements. They must understand modern lighting and be ready to engage in similar work. To produce a smooth lighting system, they should adhere to the most recent trends with the cutting-edge software applications.
Supply Chain
Do they purchase components from well-known and established suppliers? For example, do they use branded LED chips and LED drivers, and are they authorized by the brand?
Cost
China should be your top option if you’re seeking for high-quality LED lights at an affordable price. Thanks to its excellent LED industry chain, Chinese manufacturers can quickly and efficiently design and manufacture high-quality LED road lights on a large scale.
Testing Report
Qualified manufacturers have all the necessary testing equipment, including waterproof or protection ratings (IP) testing, temperature testing, impact protection (IK) testing, aging testing, etc. If you choose LED road lights for your project, it is best to have your supplier provide all testing reports.
Choose High-Quality LED Street Lights
LED Chips
The performance of an LED streetlight is directly influenced by its basic component, the LED chip. High-quality parts are necessary for LED streetlights because they must survive hostile environments to save maintenance expenses. Thus it’s essential to use reputable, branded LED chips. LED chip producers CREE, OSRAM, Philips, Edison Opto, and Epistar are all well-known internationally and each has their own advantages. You can make a decision based on the specifics needed for your project.
LED PCB Board
PCB stands for Printed Circuit Board. It is a type of circuit board with wires and solder pads that connect various points together. It allows for faster and easier electronic assembly and can create circuits containing hundreds of components. PCB boards are small in size, save on wiring, easy to inspect and replace faulty parts, efficient, reliable, and save time and cost. Designing a PCB is a challenge, and often, we choose professional manufacturers with electrical engineers who can design custom PCBs according to project requirements.
LED Potting
An LED chip and fluorescent powder are housed in a plastic case known as an LED encapsulation. The fluorescent material transforms portion of the blue light from the LED chip, a semiconductor, into green and red wavelengths. The LED encapsulation emits white light as a result of this combination. The primary focus and objective of LED encapsulation technology are to increase device dependability, high color performance, and light output efficiency.
Several packaging techniques are utilized for LED devices, with surface-mount LEDs being the most popular choice for LED streetlights. The term Surface Mounted Device (SMD) is used. It has a wide range of applications and is distinguished by its high efficiency, efficient thermal control, and great cost-effectiveness.
LED Driver
LED is a low-voltage light source that requires constant direct current voltage or current for optimal operation. The drivers convert high AC voltage from the power source into the required low DC voltage, providing current and voltage protection fluctuations for LED bulbs. Without the correct LED driver, the LED may overheat, leading to burnout or poor performance.
Drivers for LEDs are either constant voltage or constant current. A constant current driver has an output current that is fixed and can produce a variety of output voltages. A constant voltage LED driver has a maximum adjustable output current and a fixed output voltage.
Considering the harsh outdoor environment where LED streetlights are located, it is essential to use reliable LED drivers. MEAN WELL, OSRAM, Philips, TRIDONIC, and INVENTRONICS are all reliable LED driver brands that you can choose according to your needs.
LED Heat Sink
To prevent overheating and maintain the functionality of the LED module and LED driver, the casing serves as a heat sink that dissipates heat. Moreover, the casing shields interior parts. The casing needs to have specific properties for its role as a heat sink, including quick heat absorption, low contact thermal resistance, and good thermal conductivity. An extremely popular material for LED streetlight casings is die-cast aluminum. It is inexpensive and a rather excellent thermal conductor.
What are the Best Brands of LED Street Lights?
LED street lights have become increasingly popular over the years due to their energy efficiency, durability, and sustainability. There are several brands that produce high-quality LED street lights, including Philips/Signify, ORSAM, CREE, GE Lighting, Acuity Brands, Eaton Cooper, Bridgelux, and Hubbell.
Philips/Signify
With over 125 years of experience in the lighting industry, Philips/Signify is a trusted brand. Its LED street lights are designed to be energy-efficient, with advanced features such as dimming capabilities and motion sensors that help to save energy and reduce costs. Signify also offers smart lighting solutions that can be connected to a central control system, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of the street lights.
ORSAM
ORSAM is a Turkish company that has been in the lighting industry for over 30 years. The company specializes in LED lighting products that are designed to be energy-efficient, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly. ORSAM’s LED street lights are available in a variety of wattages and sizes to meet the needs of different applications, from residential streets to major highways.
CREE
CREE is an American company that has been at the forefront of LED lighting technology for over 30 years. The company’s LED street lights have advanced features such as precision optics that help to maximize the light output and reduce glare. CREE also offers smart lighting solutions that can be integrated with other smart city technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
GE Lighting
GE Lighting is a division of General Electric that has been in the lighting industry for over a century. The company’s LED street lights are designed to be energy-efficient, with advanced features such as dimming capabilities and wireless controls that allow for easy management and monitoring. GE Lighting also offers a range of customizable options, including different wattages, color temperatures, and mounting configurations, to meet the needs of different applications.
Acuity Brands
Acuity Brands is an American company that specializes in lighting and building management solutions. The company’s LED street lights have integrated sensors that can detect motion and adjust the light output accordingly. Acuity Brands also offers a range of smart lighting solutions that can be connected to a central control system, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of the street lights.
Eaton Cooper
Eaton Cooper is a leading provider of lighting and electrical solutions. The company’s LED street lights have precision optics and intelligent controls that help to optimize the light output and reduce energy consumption. Eaton Cooper also offers a range of customizable options, including different mounting options and color temperatures, to meet the needs of different applications.
Bridgelux
Bridgelux is an American company that specializes in LED lighting products. The company’s LED street lights provide high-quality illumination and have precision optics and dimming capabilities. Bridgelux also offers a range of customizable options, including different wattages and color temperatures, to meet the needs of different applications.
Hubbell
Hubbell is an American company that specializes in electrical and lighting solutions. The company’s LED street lights have wireless controls that allow for easy management and monitoring. Hubbell also offers a range of customizable options, including different wattages and color temperatures, to meet the needs of different applications.
MOKOLight – Your Ideal LED Street Light Manufacturer
For clients looking to purchase quality LED street lights, we advise to select the manufacturer that has a position of strength. If you agree, MokoLight could be your optimal option for a wholesale LED street light manufacturer.
- The following arguments suggest that MokoLight might be a wise decision:
- 16+ years of experience in LED manufacturing and component sourcing
- 70+ professional engineers for R&D and 60+ senior sales team
- 7 production assembly lines, 5 SMT lines and 3 DIP assembly lines
- 100% product quality control and 5-stage product quality process
- Certified by IS09001: 2015, IS014001: 2015, IS013485, ROHS, BSCI and UL
- Trusted by Samsung, Osram, Philips, MEAN WELL etc
- More competitive price, fast delivery time
We hope this article will help you know more about LED street lights and choose the right manufacturer. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. We promise we will only supply high quality LED street lights with the reasonable prices.
