Comprehensive Approach to Public Lighting

Abstract

Public lighting as well as every technical infrastructure has got its own lifetime, so the periodic renovation is needed. Public lighting in the Czech Republic was built during the 70´s of the last century and regular renovations were done only in larger cities. In small cities and villages, the public lighting systems are almost at the end of their life time and it is necessary to make the overall reconstruction. For a long time, relatively a little attention was paid to public lighting. The situation was changed in the last few years, where thanks to the pressure to lower the energy consumption, the attention was focused also on the public lighting. Solutions of problems with energy efficiency are usually accompanied by financial instruments in the form of subsidies, grants etc. which support the change of technical equipment with low efficiency for technical equipment with high efficiency. However, in above mention steps the considerations of the overall reconstruction of public lighting is missing. With reference to situation in public lighting systems it would be appropriate to combine their energy performance solutions with overall reconstruction. Older lighting systems and unfortunately, also some new lighting systems, are not only energy inefficient but in many cases they also visually disturb public spaces by their location, design or proportions. In addition, they are the sources of obtrusive light too. Public spaces are important part of human settlements and the scale of life quality. The light is an instrument for creating environment with regards to many aspects (cultural, historical, functional, etc.) of urban areas. It is necessary to perceive public lighting comprehensively taking into account not only the traffic safety and energy consumption but also architectural-urban aspects and aspects connected with minimizing of obtrusive light.