Reducing the energy consumption of a lighting project does not necessarily mean reducing its visual impact. For local governments and professionals who design, install, or operate these systems, the key challenge is to size the installation appropriately and use it more efficiently.
Power, operating hours, programming and positionning can al be adjusted accoring to the space, its uses, and and the visual result you want to achieve .
Here are five practical ways to better manage energy consumption while preserving what gives a lighting project its value: its ability to create emotion and bring places to life.
The first step is to establish a clear energy consumption baseline.
The calculation is based on the total installed power and the number of operating hours:
Installed power (kW) × operating time (h) = electricity consumption (kWh)
For projects covering several spaces, the analysis can also be carried out by zone. This makes it easier to identify where energy is actually being used and where adjustments may have the greatest impact.
Leblanc Illuminations can calculate the electricity consumption of its decorations and estimate the total electricity cost of a project. This information is part of the support provided to help customers make informed choices.
Having these figures available at an early stage also makes it easier to compare different project scenarios on a consistent basis.
An efficiently managed project starts with an installation sized for its actual use.
A façade, a Christmas tree, a street crossing or a ground-mounted decoration will not require the same configuration. The number of light points alone is therefore not enough to compare two solutions: power consumption, positioning and the role each element plays in the overall lighting design should also be considered.
The aim is not simply to select the lowest-power option, but to choose the level of power that matches the visual effect and the characteristics of the site.
This approach helps balance energy consumption, technical requirements and the visual quality of the project.
Operating time has a direct impact on the final energy consumption of a lighting project.
Rather than keeping the same schedule throughout the entire season, operating hours can reflect how the space is actually used: opening times, visitor numbers, weekends, peak tourism periods or one-off events.
The principle remains the same whatever the project: when are the illuminations actually seen, experienced and contributing to the atmosphere of the place?
This helps reduce unnecessary operating hours while preserving the full visual impact at the moments that matter most.
Better programming is therefore not simply about switching the lights off earlier. It is about matching the lighting schedule to the way the space is really used.
Control systems add flexibility when different areas of a project do not have the same lighting needs.
A main entrance may need to remain illuminated longer than a secondary area. An event zone may only be activated on specific days. Operating schedules can also be adjusted as the season progresses.
Leblanc illuminations' control solution makes it possible to programme operating hours and periods zone by zone, using a smartphone or tablet.
The aim is to make the installation responsive to the way each space is used, rather than applying one fixed schedule to the entire project.
Reducing energy consumption does not mean reducing light evenly across the entire project.
Another approach is to prioritise spaces according to the role they play in the overall experience: a main entrance, a central square, a landmark façade, a meeting point, a visitor route or a particularly visible feature.
Some areas can therefore concentrate more visual effects, while secondary spaces use a lighter approach.
Lighting design becomes a practical way to make choices: where should the light attract attention, guide visitors, create surprise or become a focal point?
The project is no longer considered only in terms of the number of decorations, but in terms of use, visual impact and the emotion created.
Installed power alone does not determine a project's energy consumption. It needs to be considered together with the actual number of operating hours.
In one Leblanc illuminations project, the total installed power was 27.286 kW. Over 234 operating hours during the season, the calculated electricity consumption was 6,384.924 kWh.
The formula is straightforward:
Installed power (kW) × operating time (h) = electricity consumption (kWh)
In this example:
27.286 × 234 = 6,384.924 kWh
This illustrates the direct impact of operating time: with the same installed power, every hour of use contributes to the final energy consumption.
These figures can then be used to compare different schedules or programming scenarios. The estimated electricity cost can be calculated separately using the local energy tariff applicable to the country, contract and market concerned.
To assess the results properly, it is better to compare energy consumption in kWh rather than looking only at the electricity bill.
Energy prices can vary from one season or country to another, so kWh provides a more consistent basis for measuring changes in actual consumption.
At the end of the project, a few key figures can help build a useful review: total electricity consumption, total operating hours and, where possible, consumption by zone.
If the installation or operating schedules have changed, it is also useful to separate the savings linked to project sizing from those achieved through programming and operating hours.
This review can then inform the next season: keep the schedules that worked, adjust selected areas and gradually refine the project around the way each space is actually used.
Energy consumption is best managed from the design stage, not only once the lights are switched on.
Leblanc illuminations supports local authorities and professionals from the first idea through to the completed project, taking into account site constraints, the spaces to be enhanced and the visual result they want to achieve. Design, development and manufacturing are all part of this project-based approach.
This makes it possible to balance the different parameters of a project: choice of decorations, installed power, positioning, operating hours and control options.
The aim is not to apply the same solution everywhere, but to create an installation suited to each use, combining controlled energy consumption, technical requirements and the emotion the lighting experience is designed to create.
Are you planning a lighting project? The Leblanc Illuminations teams can assist you with its design and with estimating its energy consumption.
Look at the figures together: total installed power, operating hours and final electricity consumption in kWh. Comparing only the number of decorations or LEDs does not give an accurate picture of a project's energy use.
Not necessarily. Before replacing an installation, it is useful to assess the equipment already in place, its power requirements and how it is used. Operating hours, programming and positioning can also provide opportunities to optimise consumption.
Once electricity consumption has been calculated in kWh, apply the electricity tariff relevant to the country and contract concerned. There is therefore no single cost figure that can be applied to every project or market.
Ideally, from the project design stage. This makes it possible to compare different configurations before installation. A review after the season can then compare those estimates with the actual operating data.