CBD Pilot Tests Innovative Lighting System

A pilot project in New Plymouth’s CBD could shine a light on a new way to illuminate retail areas around the country.

New Plymouth District Council has installed a new system of under-veranda lighting along Brougham, Devon and Currie streets in an effort to provide a better quality of lighting at a reduced running cost.

Manager Projects Team Jeff Bondy says the LED lights, which have replaced the previous fluorescent tube light fittings, have exceeded expectations.

“We’ve installed them reasonably painlessly, even given the different height of verandas outside these retail businesses, and the light quality is striking,” he says.

“The lights give off more than 100 lux at pavement level when the national standard recommended average is 21 lux. It’s a very even, white light rather than the old patchy light from the fluorescents.

“Now that we’ve got them installed we’ll run them for a while and evaluate their success before deciding if we should extend the installation – that could include other areas in New Plymouth’s CBD, suburban shopping centres and Fitzroy, Waitara and Inglewood.”

The light fittings have been designed from scratch in a joint project between NPDC and Eco Creation Ltd, which specialises in sustainable products including solar powered lighting and capacitor backup systems.

The fittings have minimal internal wiring – a huge benefit for an outdoor installation that can become wet – as power is conducted through the fitting itself which is double-insulated.

The LED lights run off 24 volts – as opposed to the 240 volts of the fluorescents, which can be dangerous to work with – and use less power than the older lighting system.

With the LEDS, there is the option of turning up the brightness of the lights for special occasions.

One factor being looked into is the use of sustainable energy, with a solar panel powering two lights outside French Photographics.

The question of how to provide cost-effective and good-quality under-veranda lighting in retail areas is something councils around the country are trying to solve, as there can be a mix of ownership between councils and retailers. Maintenance of verandas and their electrical fittings can fall behind, and veranda lighting installations on empty buildings are often neglected.

Mr Bondy has already received queries about the LED pilot from other councils.

“If this pilot is successful then Eco Creation Ltd could be sending its product around the country,” he says.

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