Sponsored by Itron
Measuring real carbon intensity impact of lighting decisions
Councils are under pressure to account for tangible, traceable reductions in carbon emissions. In any city, streetlighting is often one of the largest energy expenses, yet emissions reporting often still relies on static annual averages, overlooking the real-time conditions of the grid when power is being consumed.
Further, as renewable energy continues to gain momentum with solar, storage and flexible demand, the carbon intensity of energy changes every hour. Treating carbon as a single annual estimate misses a major operational lever – real time energy consumption.
This is where smart lighting becomes a strategic asset.
With Itron’s CityEdge, councils can receive carbon intensity signals and adjust lighting levels based on those signals. Instead of modelling theoretical emissions savings, councils can make instantaneous operational decisions to promptly reduce consumption during higher carbon periods while maintaining safety compliance. The ability to execute real-time remote control is invaluable turning carbon emission reduction policies into measurable outcomes.
From theoretical savings to auditable reductions
As council finance teams and independent auditors start tracking and examining the carbon emission reports, they require data from reliable sources to support findings. Tools like networked lighting controllers (NLCs) accurately track and report metering-grade consumption data for each luminaire. When paired with carbon intensity data, energy usage can be tracked based on avoided emissions with the actual grid conditions and not just based on assumptions of grid conditions from months earlier. This is a huge improvement towards accurate, time-sensitive impact measurement.
NLCs unlock the ability for remote control and automated lighting scheduling, opening the door to carbon-driven dimming strategies. If the carbon intensity of the grid spikes, smart lighting solutions can respond and reduce load during those periods. It’s simple to implement, repeatable, and traceable.
This connected lighting strategy enables councils to actively manage the streetlights as a flexible demand resource, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and enhancing grid stability.
Why streetlighting is the most practical first step
Smart streetlighting is the easiest place to start implementing tools for trackable carbon optimisation. Schedules for dimming is easily achievable given that the usage of streetlighting is highly predictable with a fixed network across the city’s infrastructure. Moreover, the requirement for scheduled dimming does not require behavioural change from any households or businesses. Councils can set intelligent rules centrally using a centralized management system and refine them over time based on performance data.
This allows local government to test, prove and scale carbon-aware demand response before expanding the concept to other loads.
How councils can prepare
To get started, councils should be thinking about:
- How to access real time carbon intensity signals
- Evaluating the capability to receive and act on those signals
- Find out how carbon outcomes can be built into dimming logic alongside lighting standards
- Determine whether emissions can be calculated at fixture or precinct level to support audit and public reporting
Today, this all achievable using Itron’s proven CityEdge platform. Hence councils can embark on a proven method to proactively track and reduce carbon emissions without having to wait for future regulatory frameworks to catch up. They can lead by adopting carbon-aware operational lighting management now and demonstrate outcomes backed by real data.
By aligning lighting operation with live carbon intensity, councils can confidently move beyond reporting lighting as a fixed cost. With the right controls and analytics, lighting becomes a visible contributor to the energy transition and a measurable source of emissions reduction every single night.
Learn more at itron.com
