The City has made reducing light pollution, saving energy, and enhancing Lausanne’s nighttime aesthetics central to Plan Lumière II.
This plan proposes a new approach to street lighting. The Lausanne area will be divided into four zones, each of which will be lit differently depending on the time of night. The lighting will be based on a “dark grid” that will better protect biodiversity and human health.
Light pollution has more than doubled over the past 30 years, and the area of natural darkness continues to shrink in Switzerland. It now covers less than 20% of Switzerland. Furthermore, when it is excessive or unnecessary, street lighting leads to energy waste.
The City of Lausanne has decided to redesign its public lighting system to provide lighting when it is useful and during the hours when it is needed, while complying with safety requirements. To achieve this goal, the Lighting Plan II (Preliminary Report No. 2023/63) focuses on three key areas:
Energy efficiency: The Lighting Plan calls for a 50% reduction in public lighting consumption by 2033 (compared to 2019). To achieve this, 100% of streetlights will be equipped with LEDs (currently 42%) by 2033, programmed to dim or turn off in the middle of the night
The “dark grid”: eliminating light where it is not essential
Enhancing nighttime appeal in line with urban developments: beautifying the city at night, highlighting venues for nighttime social and cultural activities, and supporting the holiday season celebrations.
The Lausanne area is divided into four zones, each illuminated differently depending on the time of night:
Zone 1: The most sensitive zone in terms of biodiversity, and therefore the one that will be least illuminated. It is located in sparsely populated outlying areas, near parks and waterways, and sees little nighttime use. Its lighting will be removed whenever possible. Situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking road safety into account.
Zone 2: a biodiversity-sensitive area. Heavily populated, this area has limited nighttime activity and is predominantly residential. It is therefore suitable for turning off lights between 10:00 p.m. or 12:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. or 6:30 a.m. to protect wildlife and flora, as well as to ensure a good night’s sleep. The light sources used will have a warmer color temperature (2,200 K), which is better tolerated by nocturnal animals.
Zone 3: a dense area, but with little nighttime activity. The color temperature changes to 2700 K as a transition to the activity zone. The lighting is designed with successive reductions in intensity throughout the night.
Zone 4: a nightlife district with significant social and cultural activities. The lighting will have a color temperature of 3000 K and will be designed more creatively to enhance the city’s nighttime appearance and make public spaces more vibrant and welcoming. A reduction in light intensity is also planned during the night.
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