Community
1. The right light, where, when and how it is needed With the right light, any urban space can fulfil its potential to connect people and create a sense of well-being and safety. New demands have been placed on lighting technology to ensure quality, safety and, above all, sustainability. Key topics such as the protection of insects, higher glare control and warmer colour temperatures with better colour rendering have motivated us to develop an optimised system for our range of optics. Choosing the right colour temperature is never an easy decision: a cold white light is more energy-efficient and improves visibility for elderly people, while a warmer one is better for people to relax and is less harmful for flora and fauna. Schréder has developed FlexiWhite technology to give city managers the flexibility to provide the right amount of light at the right colour temperature in the right place at the right time. Schréder’s FlexiWhite solution combines dimming and colour temperature changes according to fixed or on-demand scenarios with sensors for safe and environmentally-friendly lighting.
I. Preservation of biodiversity The conservation of flora and fauna is a crucial issue for the sustainability of our planet. According to the United Nations, the majority of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas within the next few decades. As a result, an additional 460,000 square miles of land will be urbanised, leaving less space for forests, wildlife and insects. In addition, artificial lighting has become more widespread, affecting wildlife behaviour, migration patterns and breeding cycles. Flora and fauna can suffer from high light intensity, the colour spectrum (blue light) of LEDs and excessive lighting over time. Lighting can also have a negative impact on plant species by disrupting their photosynthesis and pollination cycles. Trees and hedgerows are natural environments for bats, while rivers and canals are also important for foraging. Some bat species are very sensitive to light. Light pollution, i.e. excessive lighting and uncontrolled light spill, is a major contributor to insect mortality.
Galway Bay Thanks to the smart lighting solution that we developed to protect the coastal environment of Galway Bay, the city is now home to the first FlexiWhite installation in Ireland and the largest in Europe. Our FlexiWhite system switches between amber and white light to protect flora and fauna while ensuring human safety and comfort . The solution also enables the street lights to be switched on and off according to planning requirements, giving the Council great control. The solution has reduced energy costs by 64% while ensuring the sustainability of the area.
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