Energy-Saving and Low-Carbon LED Lights Illuminate Wuxi's Central Urban Area, Jiangsu Province

Promoting green and low-carbon urban lighting development not only embodies the national "dual-carbon" strategy but also responds to the practical needs of improving people's livelihoods, and is an important measure for building comfortable and livable cities. Recently, the Wuxi Municipal Administration and Landscaping Bureau's Lighting and Drainage Management Center successfully completed its 2025 major lighting overhaul project. This project carried out energy-saving renovations on streetlights along the Taihu Lake Ring Road (Meiyuan Interchange - Yaowan Interchange), Huaqing Avenue (Xinguang Road - Liangzhong Bridge), and Xihu Road (Xingchang Road - Guangtong Road) in Wuxi's central urban area. After the renovations, not only was the energy-saving effect significantly improved, but the quality of road lighting was also noticeably enhanced.

I. Improving Illumination for Better Citizen Travel

The Taihu Lake Ring Road and Huaqing Avenue, as main urban thoroughfares, had streetlights installed in 2006 and 2008 respectively. Xihu Road, adjacent to the high-speed rail station and bus station, is an important city gateway, with streetlights installed in 2010. All three roads have streetlights that have been in operation for over 15 years. The aging infrastructure results in dim nighttime lighting, with unsatisfactory illuminance and uniformity, directly impacting citizen travel experience and traffic safety.

This renovation replaced the traditional high-pressure sodium lamps on these three roads with high-efficiency, high-color-rendering LED lights, and added additional streetlights in some sections. After the renovation, nighttime lighting has been significantly improved, with average illuminance increasing by 2-4 times. The customized 2700K warm white light has high visual tolerance, creating a warm, bright, uniform, and comfortable lighting environment, facilitating nighttime travel for citizens and enhancing their sense of well-being and satisfaction.

II. Reducing Energy Consumption and Practicing Green Lighting

Streetlight energy-saving renovation is not simply a matter of "replacing old lights with new ones," but rather maximizing energy savings through technological empowerment. Based on the comprehensive adoption of low-energy LED lights, each streetlight is equipped with a single-lamp controller, enabling the streetlights to operate at reduced power during specific periods, further tapping into energy-saving potential. Calculations show that after the renovation of the three roads, the electricity saving rate reached 64%, saving approximately 1.03 million kWh of electricity annually, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 810 tons, and saving approximately 770,000 yuan in electricity costs annually. This "LED + single-lamp control" combination model has become a mature practice of the green lighting concept.

III. Upgrading Facilities and Beautifying the Urban Environment

In addition to improved lighting quality and energy-saving effects, the renovated lights are smaller, thinner, and more aesthetically pleasing. The accompanying fall arrestors also reduce the safety hazards of lights falling from heights in case of emergencies. The simultaneous implementation of renovations to the mid-pole lamp supports, anti-graffiti and anti-sticking coatings on the lamp poles, and updates to the street light nameplates has given the renovated street lights a brand-new look from top to bottom, improving the city's appearance and image.