When Launceston City Council was looking to upgrade existing fixtures that had reached their end of life in the Seaport and Royal Park area, it was a clear direction to look to LED. The existing fittings were 100 watt metal halide lamps and so there was a big opportunity to save on energy and maintenance through the upgrade. Whilst this is an admirable goal, the designer realised that other fantastic opportunities were also achievable through the ability to improve both the environmental impact of the installation and the amiability of the space for those who use it.
It is an unfortunate side of LED luminaires that often the usability of the space takes a backseat to perceived energy savings. The increase in glare is often combined with a loss of colour quality, leading to spaces that simply are not pleasant to inhabit. The Seaport Boulevard and Royal Park were both heavily utilised after dark and so the task was to deliver savings to council whilst maintaining a pleasant night time environment. Furthermore, the existing solution had poor optical control that produced upward waste light well above the Australian standards as well as light trespass on to residential properties and the river. Light trespass is known to cause major interference with ecosystems in waterways and so any improvement in reducing the spill light would be welcome.
To address the glare and control, a precise optical system was selected from WE-EF, utilising a lens that kept the peak angles under 60°. This meant that the light was directed down to where it is useful and kept stray light out of pedestrians’ eyes. The optic emits a street distribution that pushes the majority of the light sideways along the pathways, minimising the forward and back spill. This resulted in a 400% decrease in light trespass to the river and nearby residence. Light quality was handled with the use of high colour rendering LEDs in a 3000K warm white colour. Warm white LEDs are known to emit less glare than colder LEDs as well as create a more pleasant atmosphere in low light situations. Overall, this project achieved what so many fail to do, improve the installations environmental impact and enhance the usability of the space. It has done so whilst reducing energy consumption by 75%, increasing the overall lighting and uniformity levels, and practically removed the need for maintenance. Everyone involved should be congratulated as this is a true blueprint for what can be achieved through thoughtful planning and execution.
Electrical Engineer JMG Engineers & Planners
Client Launceston City Council