Intelligent street lighting in the canton of Schwyz - Altendorf takes a pioneering role throughout Switzerland
They are the order of the day for municipalities in Schwyz: Smart street lights that provide light on demand, massively reducing energy consumption and light pollution. Following the decision by the Schwyz government council in August to provide financial support for municipalities to upgrade street lighting on cantonal roads, Altendorf is now the first municipality to demonstrate how an intelligent system can be implemented simply and cost-effectively. On the busy cantonal road, Altendorf is now relying on the innovative TrafficDim lighting control system, which measures the number of vehicles and adapts the light to the traffic.
Intelligent lighting controls are the future
Altendorf (SZ) - The Schwyz government council has commented in mid-August on an interpellation on the sensible use of intelligent street lighting on cantonal roads. It emerges that the canton of Schwyz will support the municipalities financially in the renovation in the future. Additional costs arising from the installation of the necessary hardware will be borne by the canton.
With this, the Schwyz government council is taking account of the trend towards smart lighting in public spaces and is assuming a pioneering role throughout Switzerland. This also makes sense. Intelligent lighting controls are the future. Not only do they require significantly less energy, they also help to reduce light pollution. At the same time, they are easy to maintain and thus reduce ongoing operating costs. Nevertheless, in the canton of Schwyz and throughout Switzerland, not all municipalities are equipped with smart luminaires and intelligent lighting controls by a long shot. Altendorf is an exception.
Altendorf sets a good example
On behalf of the municipality of Altendorf, Elektrizitätsversorgung Altendorf AG (EVA) had already begun converting to LED luminaires in 2010. Today, Altendorf is one of the first Swiss communities to rely on traffic-dependent lighting control. When planning the next renovation stage, the municipality worked with EVA to find an intelligent system that not only saves electricity but also minimizes light pollution. Their solution: the traffic-dependent lighting control system "TrafficDim" from the company Elektron in Wädenswil - a long-standing partner of the municipality.
From our side, it is an imperative of the hour. Altendorf wants to become an energy town. This includes reducing the energy consumption of street lighting to a minimum. On the Zürcherstrasse, which runs from the Freienbach municipal border to the village crossroads, around 20 percent of the total energy of our street lighting infrastructure is consumed. Therefore, this main traffic axis offered the ideal conditions for the use of an innovative lighting control system.
Innovation from the region
The "TrafficDim" traffic-dependent lighting control system used was developed by local company Elektron specifically for busy main roads. The system is one of the most efficient light control systems available on the market. The principle is impressive: less traffic, less light - more traffic, more light. Using traffic data collected on site, a lighting management system controls the luminaires as needed, without compromising safety.
No constant change of brightness
The approximately 60 luminaires along Zürcherstrasse are controlled with the use of just one traffic sensor. Compared to alternative solutions with individual sensors on each luminaire, with "TrafficDim" residents are not disturbed by constant changes in brightness. The changes are gentle and barely noticeable. This was important to Altendorf, as Markus Weber, head of Altendorf's civil engineering department, emphasizes: "We didn't want any nervous lighting, no constant up and down of the light."
For us it was quickly clear: If we switch now, we will go one step further than most. One reason why we chose "TrafficDim" was that it is an open system. Even the luminaire interfaces are manufacturer-independent. This means that we can always switch to another control unit if we were not satisfied with the one we chose. In contrast, many other control units we looked at are permanently installed in the luminaires.
Light also adapts to special events
Between May and August, EVA installed the 60 networked luminaires. The light levels for different traffic volumes are set according to the applicable standards. This ensures safety on the roads at all times. If there is a sudden increase in traffic during the night due to events or special events, the lights are automatically dimmed up for that time.
Enrico Baumann, smart city expert and CEO of Elektron AG, thinks: "Altendorf has done everything right in refurbishing its public lighting. It started early with the conversion to LED and has continuously taken into account the technological progress over the last ten years. With the use of TrafficDim, it is taking on a pioneering role throughout Switzerland."
Especially valuable in the dark season
Markus Weber adds: "The timing for implementing traffic-dependent lighting is just right. Soon autumn will come and it will get dark earlier. Then it will be all the more noticeable if the road is no longer unnecessarily illuminated."
Impressions
The video and image material can be used free of charge for editorial purposes. Image source: ELEKTRON AG
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Medienmitteilung TrafficDim in AltendorfMedia contact
Anja Kutter, Media Office
076 340 02 07, anja.kutter@kutterkommunikation.ch
Your other contacts:
Roger Spieser, municipal clerk Altendorf
055 451 77 44 | info@altendorf.ch
Oliver Mächler, Network Manager Electricity Supply Altendorf
055 451 01 60, o.maechler@evaltendorf.ch
Enrico Baumann, Smart City Expert and Managing Director ELEKTRON AG
079 693 05 38, e.baumann@elektron.ch
About Elektrizitätsversorgung Altendorf AG (EVA)
Electricity Supply Altendorf AG (EVA) was founded in 1920. EVA is the owner and operator of the electricity and communications network in Altendorf and supplies 100% renewable electricity. EVA is a member of Energie March Netze AG, employs about ten people and trains apprentices in the field of power grid.
For up-to-date information on EVA, visit the website.
www.evaltendorf.ch
About ELEKTRON
.The leading Swiss technology company is actively engaged in the energy and infrastructure market for resource minimization by increasing energy efficiency. As a competent integrator, ELEKTRON AG combines individual customer needs with the appropriate technology partners. This is how intelligent solutions for efficient systems are created in the business areas of drives, electronics, payment systems, smart city and lighting.
As a market leader in street lighting, ELEKTRON recognized early on that luminaires offer far more than just light. In addition to branching out from the center to the neighborhoods, street lighting brings with it ideal prerequisites for becoming the carrier infrastructure for smart applications. This is how smart cities are emerging today around the digital light point.
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