Kaikoura, a Dark Sky Sanctuary
Smart lighting has reduced energy costs and light pollution, enabling this town to preserve its natural ecosystems
Kaikoura is a picturesque coastal town on New Zealand's South Island, renowned for its stunning scenery and marine life. The local authorities are committed to preserving this natural ecosystem, especially the endangered Hutton's Shearwater, which is now only found in Kaikoura. In 2020 they launched an initiative via the Kaikoura Dark Sky Trust, to become a Dark Sky Sanctuary, which was officially designated on 12th September 2024.
Building on this status, Kaikoura Dark Sky Trust, would like the town and surrounding area to become an International Dark Sky Community. In 2021, the town deployed smart lighting technology as part of this goal. Schréder was delighted to accompany the town on this journey by delivering over 400 luminaires controlled by the Schréder EXEDRA lighting platform to strike a balance between public safety and the preservation of the natural night sky.
Street lighting to balance safety and protect biodiversity
When approached by Mainpower, Kaikoura District Council's (KDC) lighting operator, to deliver energy-efficient lighting with zero upward light flux, we carried out a comprehensive audit of the town's infrastructure (pole heights, location...) and lighting requirements. We then drew up a detailed lighting plan to comply with lighting standards, ensuring safety on the town’s streets and roads and to allow nature to flourish.
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We've got a unique environment here - we're very blessed. We' have probably got one of the best spots in the Southern hemisphere for so many mammals. But we're also very, very conscious of respecting and looking after that environment.
Just over 400 SASTA LED luminaires have been installed throughout the town. They are fitted with flat glass optics with a 0° tilt to prevent any upward light spill. The luminaires along or near the shores have also been fitted with a light shield to ensure absolutely no light spill onto the sea.
According to the lighting design, the street lights are equipped with either very warm white (2,200K) or warm white (3,000K) LEDs. Street lights in critical areas along the shores, especially near the habitats and flight paths of the endangered Hutton's Shearwater are fitted with very warm white LEDs because the birds are attracted to bright white light, which disrupts their flight patterns and brings them into the town, where they would be eaten by cats or crushed by cars.
Deploying smart lighting in Kaikoura has been extremely rewarding. Not only have we reduced energy costs and light pollution, we've also protected our unique natural environment. The Schréder EXEDRA CMS has enabled us to fine-tune our lighting strategy to ensure safety while preserving the pristine night skies that make Kaikoura a Dark Sky Sanctuary.
A smart lighting technology partner from start to finish
It was essential for KDC to be able to control the street lights individually and in groups, so that they could adjust the lighting throughout the year, especially during the fledgling and peak tourist seasons. The town's population increases significantly in the summer, when visitors flock to hike and enjoy water activities, and again in the winter for whale watching and public safety is critical during these periods.
The real benefit of the CMS is our ability to control the network. All the street lights are set to only 25% of full power at night. It gives us the ability to control each individual street light so that the light only goes where it's needed and when it's needed.
All the street lights are managed by the Schréder EXEDRA Central Management System (CMS), which has been programmed to meet KDC's specific requirements, including on/off times, weather adjustments, and seasonal demand. At night, the luminaires are dimmed by 75%, significantly reducing energy consumption and light pollution.
We worked closely with Mainpower throughout the deployment of the new smart lighting network as they handled the installation and positioning of each luminaire and node according to the specifications and provided comprehensive support throughout the commissioning process.
We provided in-depth training to the KDC team to enable them to manage the network independently using Schréder EXEDRA’s user-friendly interface.
Lower energy and maintenance costs
The performance of the energy-efficient LED street lights and the automated dimming schedules have reduced energy costs by an estimated 55%. With the data insights provided by the Schréder EXEDRA CMS, KDC will be able to anticipate public lighting budgets in the future.
Maintenance operations have also been streamlined for Mainpower, as any potential faults are immediately reported to the control room.
We are seeing some real cost savings and benefits in terms of optimising energy consumption and reducing ongoing maintenance. The CMS helps us to quickly identify faults.
Schréder is delighted to have supported Kaikoura District Council by providing smart lighting technology that allows precise control of its public lighting, minimising light pollution without compromising on safety. The positive impact on the environment with exceptional stargazing and the protection of local wildlife, including the endangered Hutton's Shearwater, are causes we truly believe in.
