Streetlight technology makes streets safer

Media Release
26 June 2007

New Philips streetlight technology makes NZ streets greener and safer

Energy-efficient ‘CosmoPolis’ system a first for the Southern Hemisphere

The first street lighting system that produces brighter light for less energy has been installed in New Zealand – also a first for the Southern Hemisphere.

The ‘CosmoPolis’ white-light system, developed in Europe by electronics giant Philips, has been hailed as a breakthrough in reducing the environmental impact of street lighting, whilst providing greater safety through better visibility.

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Helen Clark officially launched the first New Zealand CosmoPolis installation this month at the new Sea Breeze Estate residential subdivision in Whangamata, Coromandel.

Supplied by Modus Architectural Lighting, the system is forecast to reduce electricity usage by streetlights in the area by more than 30 per cent, compared with conventional white light technology.

In her opening address, the Prime Minister noted that public lighting is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from local councils – anywhere between 30 to 50 per cent – due to poorly designed and implemented street lighting.

Commercial Manager for Philips Lighting New Zealand, Gordon Wiffen, says CosmoPolis is now the most economical and environmentally friendly public lighting system on the market today, offering significant cost savings over other less eco-friendly streetlight options.

“CosmoPolis uses 10 per cent less energy than orange-glow high-pressure sodium lamps, which are the most widely used lamps in urban street lighting in New Zealand.

“It uses revolutionary new miniaturized lamps that are 65 per cent smaller than standard street lamps but produce a bright white light that can be directed with precision,” says Wiffen.

“This allows a streetlight system to be designed to illuminate only what is needed. You can reduce the number of streetlights by 10 per cent and still achieve the same lighting performance.”

Wiffen says changing New Zealand’s urban streetlights to CosmoPolis would dramatically reduce the ‘orange haze’ light pollution commonly seen in towns all over the country.

“White light also improves the appearance of buildings and parks and is more socially attractive than other lighting colours because people feel safer in a high-visibility environment.”

Wiffen says in the 50 European cities that have adopted CosmoPolis systems over the last two years, evidence suggests that ‘CosmoWhite’ light has made areas of pedestrian and road traffic safer because it significantly improves the visibility of objects.

“For city councils in New Zealand looking to reduce the environmental footprint of their district, CosmoPolis will reduce the electricity and resource consumption of their streetlights, and enhance the beauty and safety of their towns whilst providing a fast payback on investment through energy cost savings,” says Wiffen.

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