ENERGY SAVING PUBLIC LIGHTING IN MALTA - MIEMA

Energy Saving Public Lighting in Malta1 IntroductionFollowing the latest economic turmoil, more and more people are becomingaware of our society's dependence on petroleum. The economic crisis set offin December 2007 as a result of the mortgage-backed securities in the UnitedStates was exacerbated by the instability in the price of crude oil and led toan increase in the prices of energy, food and water.Two years of economic crisis have brewed the strategy for Europe 2020, inwhich the objective is to enable the European Union to become strongerfollowing the financial recovery. This involves the adoption of a newframework of thought incorporating a sustainable economy.The issue of public lighting, besides an emerging phenomenon of lightpollution, is turning out to be also a remarkable field on which to realizeenergy saving interventions. Some UNI and CEI regulations have tried tomitigate light pollution and contain energy use for such purposes. Studiesprove that it is justifiable to try to improve public lighting installations throughsuitable Lighting Plans adopted by local councils, reducing the light flowscattered towards the sky, with savings of up to 40-50%.The Malta Intelligent Energy Management Agency (MIEMA) was set up withthe support of the Intelligent Energy—Europe (IEE) programme and a numberof public institutions. Its aim is to promote a more intelligent use of energyresources. MIEMA provides a free information service to stakeholders, such aslocal councils, trade associations, government entities and the generalpublic.As part of its activities, MIEMA has undertaken an analysis of the efficiency ofpublic and private lighting systems and their possible modification in order toget a lower light pollution and a greater energy saving. The interventionproject in public lighting consisted of appropriate research on the systemsused in the municipalities of Malta and Gozo, carried out in conjunction withthe Association of Local Councils, Enemalta, the Malta Resources Authorityand the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs.A number of local councils have implemented pilot feasibility projects in theirrespective localities. The implementation, outcome and results of theseprojects are being presented in this document in order to encourage otherLocal Councils to undertake similar measures within the context of theMaltese municipality. MIEMA has worked closely with a number ofmunicipalities, helping them to adopt lighting plans, reducing light pollutionand maximizing energy efficiency.Malta Intelligent Energy Management Agency 4