Grasse commune modernization project

The desire to work with a French manufacturer located 30 kilometers from the city led to a fruitful collaboration with RAGNI. Following several lighting studies, the municipality became aware of the significant light pollution generated by the old installations:

” The municipal team wanted to initiate a new, even more virtuous dynamic in terms of energy transition and respect for the environment, by adopting a lighting development master plan (SDAL) setting out the main guidelines for urban lighting, ” explains Carine GIOVINAZZO, Engineer in the Energy and Ecological Transition department of the city of Grasse.

To preserve its living environment and exceptional biodiversity, the city aims to reduce its energy consumption by the end of the project in May 2025. To achieve this, the municipality wants to integrate LED technology into all its public lighting systems.

Thanks to its technical features, which are totally in line with the town’s DNA, the DEIKO functional luminaire’s ovoid shape has won it over, and it has been installed on many of Grasse’s roads.

Carine GIOVINAZZO adds: ” The DEIKO lantern consumes little energy and has a long service life (over 20 years). What’s more, the choice of warm white and amber LED color temperatures reduces our impact on biodiversity. We were also convinced by its high-performance asymmetrical road lighting, while ensuring compliance with regulations against light pollution. The fact that this model was designed to meet the environmental criteria of energy efficiency, recyclability and interoperability was also a plus.. “.

The choice of RAL is a nod to the town’s street furniture charter. This very natural “mars 2525 sanded” shade brings sophistication and modernity to the Grasse environment.

Since the curfew introduced during the health crisis in 2020, the municipality has initiated night-time extinction and dimming in various time bands, with the aim of reducing light levels during off-peak hours. This initiative, together with the switch to LEDs, has resulted in energy savings of 15%, i.e. 700,000 kWh/year (equivalent to 140 households), as well as financial savings of around €175,000/year.

” Today, the night-time switch-off zone has been extended thanks to factory-programmed drivers. 49% of the lighting stock has been programmed to dim between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., 3,088 light points (44% of the lighting stock) are switched off between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and only 1% of the lighting stock is neither dimmed nor switched off: the city center. “says Carine GIOVINAZZO.

Residents’ opinions are divided:

” The municipality of Grasse regularly receives requests from residents expressing their wish to extend the scope of night-time extinction to more light points. On the other hand, some residents are in favor of restoring public lighting because of a feeling of insecurity, even though it has had no impact in terms of incivilities, according to a study carried out in conjunction with the Police Municipale and the Centre de Surveillance Urbain. »

The city is particularly proud to have been awarded the “Star City” label in 2021. This distinction echoes the “Réserve Internationale de Ciel Étoilé” (RICE) label awarded in December 2019 to the “Alpes Azur Mercantour” territory by theInternational Dark Sky Associationbased in the United States. Grasse actively supports this initiative.

Projections showed that the gain in terms of energy savings and service rendered would be less than the investment. The municipality has invested heavily in this project, which remains an ecological priority, making it impossible to incorporate this solution into the budget. The town of Grasse has also opted for presence detection in some of its parks.