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Examining the role of Golnoor's high-efficiency HE series luminaires in reducing energy consumption, improving lighting quality, and increasing the economic justification of roadway optimization projects.
Milad Malekian on the Transformation in Lighting Optimization
In many urban and road lighting networks, a significant portion of energy is consumed due to the use of outdated equipment, inappropriate luminaire wattage selection, suboptimal light distribution, and the absence of design tailored to roadway characteristics.
Optimization of these networks delivers satisfactory results only when energy consumption reduction is achieved alongside maintaining or improving lighting quality. Therefore, comparing luminaires solely on the basis of power consumption is insufficient. Luminous efficacy, light distribution curve, illuminance uniformity, glare control, equipment lifespan, and maintenance costs must also be considered in decision-making.
The new generation of lighting technologies has made it possible for optimization projects to evolve from a simple electricity reduction plan into a comprehensive solution for upgrading lighting network performance.
Increased luminous efficacy means a luminaire can produce more luminous flux per watt of energy consumed. However, project success does not depend solely on the lumens-per-watt figure; the light produced must be distributed correctly and appropriately across the required surface according to roadway geometry.
Combining high luminous efficacy with appropriate optics can enable the following:
Providing required illuminance levels with lower power consumption
Increasing light uniformity across the roadway surface
Reducing dark spots and uncontrolled lighting
Better glare control and light pollution management
Reducing energy consumption and operating costs
Reducing the frequency of equipment repair and replacement
Increasing usable capacity of the electrical network
As a result, selecting the right technology can transform projects that previously had limited economic justification into viable options for optimization.
The new generation of HE series luminaires from Golnoor's Setareh family, with a luminous efficacy exceeding 185 lumens per watt, has been developed for projects where energy consumption reduction alongside maintaining lighting quality is a priority.
The higher luminous efficacy of these products can help designers and project owners provide required illuminance levels with lower wattage compared to previous generations, depending on project conditions.
However, appropriate wattage selection must be based on lighting calculations. Factors such as roadway width, pole height, pole spacing, installation arrangement, surface type, lighting class, and light distribution curve all affect the final outcome.
For this reason, the true value of a high-efficiency luminaire is determined when its performance is evaluated in the actual project scenario using valid photometric files.
Correct luminaire and wattage selection can reduce the lighting network's electricity consumption without compromising lighting quality.
Project savings are not limited to electricity bill amounts. Equipment lifespan, repair costs, luminaire replacement frequency, parts availability, and warranty conditions also affect the final cost of ownership.
Proper optimization must simultaneously consider illuminance levels, uniformity, glare control, and users' visual safety.
Reducing street lighting power consumption, especially during nighttime hours, can free up network capacity and facilitate consumption management.
Reduced electricity consumption, given the energy production mix, can help lower power plant fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Field visits to street lighting optimization projects in Mashhad and Kermanshah provided close examination of implementation processes and operational results. Feedback from operators indicates that project success should not be evaluated solely on the basis of electricity consumption reduction.
Milad Malekian, Head of Golnoor's Energy Optimization Market Development Office, comments on the results of these visits:
«In a successful project, energy consumption reduction must be accompanied by improved lighting quality. Better light uniformity, fewer dark spots, improved nighttime visibility, and operator satisfaction are indicators that should be evaluated alongside energy savings.»
These experiences show that the final outcome depends on the interaction of several factors: product quality, lighting design, correct wattage and optic selection, proper execution, and post-commissioning performance evaluation.
Accurate evaluation of a lighting network requires collecting information on the existing conditions:
Type, number, and wattage of current luminaires
Annual consumption of the lighting network
Roadway width and geometry
Pole height and spacing
Luminaire installation arrangement
Condition of arms, cables, and electrical panels
Existing illuminance level and uniformity
Annual operating hours
Energy and maintenance costs
Roadway lighting requirements and class
Project implementation constraints
After collecting this information, different scenarios can be compared in terms of energy consumption, lighting quality, capital investment cost, and payback period.
The recommended project evaluation process comprises five stages:
Existing conditions survey: Identifying equipment, roadway geometry, consumption, and network issues
Lighting design and simulation: Examining different wattages and optics based on project requirements
Technical and economic analysis: Calculating savings, implementation cost, maintenance cost, and payback period
Pilot implementation: Evaluating actual performance on a section of the route, if needed
Post-implementation measurement: Comparing consumption and lighting indicators with pre-project conditions
This process helps ensure that decision-making is based on the actual performance of the entire system rather than reliance on a single product specification.
Golnoor can participate in various aspects of a project according to the client's needs:
Initial assessment of lighting network conditions
Proposing technical scenarios suited to roadway specifications
Lighting simulation and calculations
Selecting appropriate luminaire, wattage, and light distribution curve
Estimating energy consumption reduction
Technical and economic comparison of scenarios
Pilot implementation and results evaluation
Equipment supply and project support
The goal of this process is not merely equipment replacement, but achieving a balanced combination of lighting quality, energy consumption, cost of ownership, and network reliability.
High-efficiency technologies, data-driven design, and new investment models can expand the scope of optimization project implementation across urban and road networks.
Through accurate assessment of existing conditions, it is possible to determine:
Which sections of the network have the greatest savings potential?
What wattage and optics are most suitable for each route?
What level of consumption reduction is achievable?
What will the project implementation cost and payback period be?
Which roadways should the project begin with?
Send initial network information or specifications of the roadway in question to Golnoor specialists so that optimization potential, proposed scenarios, and approximate project savings capacity can be reviewed.