A Home for People, a Hub for Nature: Lighting Cities Sustainably
People have been migrating to urban centres for centuries, and the trend is accelerating. As city limits expand, they encompass more wild, agricultural or brownfield areas which are home to a range of fauna and flora. Sustainable urban planning means building in a way that respects this wildlife, protects habitats and minimises disruption to circadian rhythms. At Schréder, we have decades of experience in providing lighting that integrates nature into urban life – something that makes people happier, too.
Infinite Options With FlexiWhite
Ask city dwellers what they like about their area and popular responses include "it's so green", "we have a fantastic playground nearby for the kids" and "I can walk to work through the park". Baron Haussmann's sweeping renovation of Paris in the 19th century created the iconic City of Light as we know it, with green spaces modelled on London's Hyde Park throughout. The Covid-19 pandemic proved that parks are one of a city's most valuable assets, as citizens found solace - and space to exercise - in nature during the lockdown.
Green areas require special care when it comes to lighting. Schréder’s FlexiWhite solution has been developed to deliver street lighting that works for people, plants and animals alike. FlexiWhite gives planners the freedom to use the right colour temperature at any time. Warm whites are comforting to look at and don’t disrupt night skies, while cool whites provide ultra-sharp visibility and help people wake up on their morning commute. Blue-rich white light highlights features that deserve a second look, but can impair circadian rhythms and sleep.
They all have a role to play, and FlexiWhite ensures that the right kind of white light is centre stage. Whether it relies on pre-programmed scenarios, a remote control system, sensors or a mix of all these inputs, the system gives you the flexibility to provide the perfect lighting: the right colour temperature, when you want it, where you need it. People are usually happy to get out of their cars when cycling and walking are safe, tempting alternatives, and FlexiWhite enables green spaces to become part of a car-free urban transport network after dark.
Animals, People, Wildlife: Urban Living for All
In France, Lille has been using lighting to make animals feel at home in the city since 2017, when they launched the LUCIOLE (Lumière Citadine Optimisée pour L'Environnement) project to protect animals and plants in their city. This includes the flora and fauna of the Parc de la Citadelle, and the nine vulnerable species of bats that live there and along the Léon Jouhaux Bridge.
Lille has created a “nocturnal corridor” with amber lighting to protect bats
The entire lighting installation is controlled by Schréder EXEDRA which enables real-time, remote management of the luminaires. In order to keep animals and plants healthy and happy, each luminaire in the park’s “nocturnal corridor” has two LED colour temperatures: amber (1,800K) and warm white (3,000K).
After 10pm, the white LEDs switch off and the amber LEDs turn on to help the animals sleep more soundly. Of course, there's no compromise on human safety: the lights also have a motion sensor that can distinguish between pedestrians, cyclists and cars - when one arrives, sensors detect their presence and the white LEDs temporarily spring into action. This solution paved the way for the development of the FlexiWhite system.
Green Jewels in the Heart of the City
Skaryszewski Park, Warsaw's 55-hectare botanical gem, had become dark and slightly foreboding at night because the luminaires were no longer providing the right level of light. The city, keen to preserve its rich biodiversity - with 280 species of trees and shrubs, including rare specimens such as Amur cork trees and hybrid horse chestnuts - and historic character, implemented a smart lighting upgrade.
A total of 149 ALBANY LED luminaires controlled by Schréder EXEDRA have been installed on the park’s main avenues to adjust the lighting in real-time. While the lighting is dimmed at night, motion sensors ensure that the light output is increased when people arrive. This maximises safety, saves energy, and dramatically reduces light pollution as the lighting is only fully switched on, when absolutely necessary.
Smart lighting with FlexiWhite preserves the rich biodiversity in Skaryszewski Park
The luminaires also integrate FlexiWhite to adapt the colour temperature throughout the day to create a healthier environment for flora and fauna, especially at night.
Biodiversity, the Key to Sustainability
Cities that put biodiversity at the heart of their development contribute directly to urban sustainability, climate resilience and human well-being. Look at Berlin, often seen as the epitome of urban cool – around half of the city is actually green space.
Further south, Schréder worked with partners including Deutsche Bank, Microsoft and [ui!] Urban Institute to provide URBAN INTELLIGENCE-as-a-Service (UIAAS) to the city of Bad Hersfeld. A total of 1,900 IZYLUM and 2,800 FLEXIA FG Midi street lights controlled by Schréder EXEDRA have been installed throughout the town.
An API connects the luminaires to the Urban Institute's UrbanPulse platform to adjust lighting based on real-time traffic and road use. They are also fitted with FlexiWhite to protect insects and provide the most comfortable lighting in residential areas.
Bad Hersfeld uses FlexiWhite to ensure the right lighting for people and insects in residential areas
For the first time, a city can simultaneously control the light distribution, light output and colour temperature of its street lights with an intuitive interface. This maximises safety, saves energy and drastically reduces light pollution as lighting is only fully switched on when absolutely necessary.
Thomas Felding, Mayor from 2010 to 2022, and advocate for smart lighting solutions that adapt to their environment noted that “The light in residential areas or in green areas that are close to nature has to be different to the lighting on our main roads,” adding the system is pioneering and a really critical step towards climate neutrality.
Nature belongs in cities as much as people do. Contact your local Schréder representative to find out how our products can create welcoming, liveable cities – for all.
About the writer
Since he joined the company as a mechanical engineer in 1988, Jean-Luc has developed a wide range of urban lighting luminaires, always striving to improve design and efficiency.
He has travelled the world, bringing a hands-on mentality to deliver the perfect solution for customers worldwide. There’s not a lot he doesn’t know about lighting!
Connect with Jean-Luc on LinkedIn.