The local authorities in the German town of Göppingen have already used several road-lighting projects to make the switch to LED – with more set to follow. The R2L2 range, designed by Thorn for exactly this kind of urban function, is making a real impression in Göppingen with its economic benefits and attractive look. At the same time, Thorn has called on products from the Urba portfolio to provide the perfect lighting solution for the varied requirements of the “Ort der Vielfalt”, a multifunctional leisure complex in the town. 

(Image: Thron Lighting)

Efficient and effective LED fittings from Thorn have put Göppingen in a new environmentally-friendly light. The local authorities made the call to start gradually converting urban street lighting to LED technology a few years ago. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Natural Protection and Reactor Safety (BNUB) in Germany is now supporting this shift with a grant to cover 20 per cent of the investment costs. A combination of the powerful R2L2 family and CiviTEQ street luminaires from Thorn has proven to be an appropriate and costeffective solution. Along with optimum lighting performance and low maintenance costs, energy efficiency is one of the key advantages of LED street lighting. In addition, the integration of a lighting management system into the Göppingen installation has also enabled conventional half-night switching that cuts energy consumption even further.  

(Image: Thron Lighting)

Helmut Renftle, Senior Planning Officer in Göppingen, is delighted with the results: “Thorn LED lighting has provided the best solution for our particular needs. Even with just 700 replacement LED luminaires in the Ministry for the Environment’s LED grant programme, we have already achieved an annual energy saving of 450,000 kWh and lowered CO2 emissions by 266 tons. The lighting system will pay for itself in about three and a half years.” Helmut Renftle is also impressed by the aesthetics of the new solution: “The new LED luminaires bathe our town in environmentally-friendly light and fit in perfectly with the urban landscape here.” 

(Image: Thron Lighting)

Design was also an important consideration when it came to defining the lighting concept for the multifunctional “Ort der Vielfalt” leisure complex (a name literally meaning ‘place of diversity’) in the heart of Göppingen. The lighting is particularly important in this place of meeting and movement, so LED luminaires from Thorn were carefully chosen to meet all the different urban lighting requirements. Various sizes of postmounted and surface-mounted fittings from the Urba lighting range use glare-free technology to provide impressive lighting quality. As a versatile lighting system for decorative area and path lighting, the extensive Urba Deco portfolio includes post, catenary wire, pendant lighting and bollard luminaires. In addition, the Urba S was selected to illuminate the half-pipe and the adjacent lanes. The unique architectural form and defined lit effect enable the Urba fittings to nicely blend in with the stylish concept of the sports complex, while the specific light distributions and flexible mounting options help highlight points of interest. 

(Image: Thron Lighting)

“The lighting is extremely important for visitor safety,” explained Mr Schuller, a street lighting specialist involved with the “Ort der Vielfalt” project. “The lighting conditions are now ideal for a wide range of users – from BMX riders and skateboarders through to joggers and runners. All the tracks, steps and edges can easily be seen, without people having to cope with visual discomfort caused by factors such as glare.”