CS116 In Milan, Sustainable Lighting is for Life Case Study 20150528 ©2015 Lumileds Holding B.V. All rights reserved.

2

Solution

Following the bidding and evaluation process, Milan’s regional

energy supplier, A2A S.p.A., awarded the lighting contract to

AEC Illuminazione. Because AEC’s Italo fixtures all incorporate

a flexible optical design and a wide range of optics, only three

fixtures were needed to address the entire project. AEC’s

Italo 1 and Italo 2 fixtures were used for Milan’s highways and

residential roadways (two sizes), while the Italo 2 Urban fixture

in suspended versions addressed the needs of city centers.

AEC chose to partner with Lumileds for the outstanding

performance and reliability of its LED technology. In particular,

LUXEON M multi-die LEDs were chosen because of their

combination of outstanding flux and efficacy at a reasonable

cost. The LED light is natural, with a cool white color

temperature 4000k and a minimum color rendering index

of 70, which is a vast improvement over HID sources that

average around 20.

In terms of upgradeability, the Italo luminaire design features

immediate access to the LED PCB once the unit is opened via

a tool-less latch. The LED heat sink is built into the hood of the

luminaire and also acts to move water away from the fixture.

Once lumen maintenance levels are met (LM-80 of 75,000

hours), the LED platform is designed for upgradeability using

the existing fixture.

“Residents and visitors walking the streets

of Milan are gazing at the beauty of a

historic city invigorated by lighting that

meets all the aesthetic, environmental

and sustainability expectations of the

21st century.”

— Alessandro Cini

CEO, AEC

Results and Benefits

The implementation of LED lighting on highways and in its

urban areas has helped Milan become a more modern,

efficient and sustainable city. The replacement of 100,000

HID lamps with Italo luminaires enabled a 51.8% reduction in

energy consumption, from 144 kWhr to 55 kWh. The average

energy use per lamp dropped by half, from 150W with HID

sources to 75W per LED luminaire, which is expected to

amount to a 10 million euro savings ($11.3 M) in the first year

alone. Beyond the energy savings, Milan officials estimate

they will reduce their overall operating cost by 30% in lighting

maintenance cost.

Each year, Milan is expected to dispose of 60,000 fewer

HID bulbs compared to previous years, which equates to

the reduction of nine tons of RAEE refuse. The city is also

expected to release 23,650 fewer tons of greenhouse gases

annually. AEC’s Italo fixtures are warranted for five years and

the LUXEON M LEDs have an expected lifetime of 100,000

hours (LM70) or 22 years with 12 hours of use per day. This

sustainable LED solution trumps HID bulbs, which require

replacement every 2-3 years.

Other positive benefits experienced by Milan include vastly

improved safety and well being of its residents and visitors

due to exceptional visibility with LED lighting. Light quality

is far superior to that of its predecessors and it is delivered

where and when it is needed. The new Italo luminaires by

AEC have completely changed the urban landscape of the

city, yet still fully comply with European and U.S. standards

on light pollution. As the largest LED lighting installation in

Europe to date, this project with AEC Italo series luminaires

using LUXEON M LEDs signifies an important step towards

more sustainable lighting in Europe—achieving energy

efficiency, cost reduction and lighting performance all

without compromising the beauty and charm of Milan’s

outdoor spaces.