Good visibility makes an outdoor space more usable and accessible, attracting a greater number of night-time visitors. This higher patronage in turn contributes to the safety of an outdoor space. Moreover, well-designed outdoor lighting can enhance the quality of the public realm and increase residents’ and visitors’ enjoyment of architecture and public spaces. In this way, high- quality outdoor lighting design has a critical role in promoting safety and improving the quality of public space for a community.
Street lighting accounts for a major portion of a municipality’s energy bill and with budgets being under such scrutiny, it is time to address inefficient lighting. The need to upgrade street lighting from older, less energy-efficient technologies to scalable efficient systems can save taxpayers thousands of dollars. Projects to replace older lighting systems in the street and public spaces should be a top priority for Mayors, City Councils, and City Managers.