Icod de los Vinos Launches €3.5 Million Sustainable Street Lighting Overhaul

Icod de los Vinos is set to overhaul its street lighting in a project that marks a major shift in how the municipality manages energy. Backed by funding from the Institute for Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE), the project aims to cut costs while meeting the Canary Islands' strict standards for protecting the night sky.

The 3.5-million-euro project involves replacing 4,843 light fixtures, leaving only 26 of the current units in place. The city will also upgrade 74 control centers to unify a lighting network that has become difficult to maintain and regulate. The City Council is moving quickly to finalize the tender by the 18th to secure national funding, making Icod de los Vinos and Los Silos the only two municipalities in the Canary Islands to benefit from this specific grant.

Beyond saving money and improving road safety, the project prioritizes environmental sustainability and the preservation of the night sky for astronomy. A new remote management system will allow the city to precisely control light levels, meeting the requirements set by the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) to reduce light pollution, which can harm local wildlife and interfere with scientific research.

To achieve this, the new LED lights must have a color temperature of no more than 2,200 Kelvin. This warm light is designed to minimize the impact on local wildlife and prevent light from scattering toward the horizon. The project is expected to take five months to complete, with the city favoring bids that offer extended equipment warranties to ensure the new infrastructure remains efficient and environmentally friendly for years to come.