Eiweiler Star Village Achieves Dark Sky Certification with Tvilight's Adaptive Lighting

Overview

In an ambitious effort to reduce light pollution and preserve the natural beauty of the night sky, Eiweiler, a village in the municipality of Nohfelden, Sankt Wendel, Germany, implements Tvilight’s CitySense Adaptive Lighting Solution. This initiative resulted in Eiweiler becoming the eighth International Dark Sky Community in Germany.

Eiweiler is the first Dark Sky Community in southwest Germany: a success that makes us proud. We are delighted to be able to set an example against light pollution and for the protection of the night sky.” – Udo Recktenwald, District Administrator of the district of Sankt Wendel.

Key Objectives

  • Reduce Light Pollution: Minimise unnecessary light emissions to restore natural night skies.
  • Achieve Dark Sky Certification: Meet the stringent criteria set by DarkSky International.
  • Promote Energy Efficiency: Reduce energy consumption and lower associated costs.
  • Enhance Public Safety: Maintain adequate lighting for safety while minimising environmental impact.
  • Support Astro-Tourism: Attract visitors and promote local tourism through pristine night skies.
  • Sustainability: Contribute to the community’s long-term environmental goals by adopting smart lighting solutions.

Customer Vision

Healthy light for nature and people

Eiweiler, surrounded by forested areas and agricultural land, faced the growing challenge of light pollution, which obscured the night sky and at the same time disrupted local ecosystems and wildlife.

The village recognised that traditional street lighting was a significant contributor to this problem, leading to increased energy consumption and costs. The community sought a solution that would allow them to reduce light pollution while still providing safe, reliable street lighting for residents and visitors.

In collaboration with Tvilight, Eiweiler aimed to implement a smart lighting solution that would automatically adjust to real-time conditions, ensuring that lights were adequately lit only when necessary. This would allow the village to maintain safety standards without contributing to environmental degradation, ultimately leading to its recognition as a Dark Sky Community.

Adaptive Street Lighting - Eiweiler Germany

Adaptive Lighting in Eiweiler

Solution

Smart motion sensor street lighting

Tvilight provided Eiweiler with its CitySense Adaptive Lighting System, a cutting-edge solution designed to address the specific challenges of reducing light pollution while ensuring public safety. The system included the following features:

  • Motion-Sensor Control: Street lights equipped with sensors that detect movement, activating only when needed and dimming (can also be completely turned off) when the area is unoccupied.
  • Time-Controlled Lighting: Lights operate according to a schedule that minimises light emission during off-peak hours, further reducing unnecessary illumination.
  • Remote Management: Centralised control allows for real-time monitoring and adjustments, ensuring optimal performance and quick response to any issues.
  • Energy Efficiency: By lowering brightness levels during inactive periods, the solution significantly cuts energy consumption (over 75%) and operational costs.
  • Dark Sky Compliance: The lighting design adhered to DarkSky International guidelines, focusing light where it is needed without allowing it to spill upwards, thus preserving the night sky.

Outcomes and Benefits

The implementation of the motion sensor lighting solution brought several significant outcomes and benefits to Eiweiler:

  • Dark Sky Certification: Eiweiler successfully met all requirements to become the eighth International Dark Sky Community in Germany, setting a benchmark for other communities.
  • Significant Energy Savings: The village achieved over 75% reduction in energy consumption, leading to substantial cost savings and a lower carbon footprint.
  • Enhanced Night Sky Visibility: The reduction in light pollution allowed for clearer night skies, boosting astro-tourism and enhancing the community’s natural beauty.
  • Improved Public Safety: Despite the reduction in light output, the smart lighting solution ensured that all areas remained safely lit when necessary, without wasting energy.
  • Sustainability Leadership: Eiweiler’s success has inspired other municipalities in the region to explore similar solutions, highlighting the village as a leader in sustainable development.
Dark Sky Friendly Street Lighting Dark Sky Friendly Smart Street Lighting

Conclusion

Eiweiler’s journey demonstrates how communities can leverage an advanced solution to balance modern needs with environmental conservation, leading to a smarter, more sustainable future.

”The successful implementation of our solution in Eiweiler is a testament to the power of smart technology in preserving our natural environment. We are very proud to have played a part in helping this village achieve its goal of becoming a Dark Sky Community. This project is a clear example of how modern solutions can harmonise with nature, providing both environmental benefits and enhanced quality of life for residents.

Chintan ShahChairman and Founder, Tvilight

”Since the introduction of the adaptive lighting, the night skies have returned to their natural beauty. It’s incredible to walk through the village and enjoy the stars without the overwhelming brightness of street lights. At the same time, we still feel safe, thanks to the automatic brightening of the lights.

A local resident of Eiweiler

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About TVILIGHT

TVILIGHT PROJECTS B.V. is a European market leader specializing in motion sensors, wireless lighting controllers, and a complete portfolio of street light management software – to manage, monitor, operate and maintain citywide public lighting infrastructure. Our smart lighting platform and open API allow integration to city’s preferred software platform and thus constitute an open, reliable and future-proof base for Smart Cities and the Internet of Things. The company has installed over 800 projects globally across 20+ countries, including iconic cities and critical infrastructure around the world. Tvilight’s international projects include Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Dutch Railways, Port of Moerdijk, Seoul, Beijing, as well as some of the largest German cities such as Düren, Münster, Cologne, Dortmund, and Berlin. To discover more about us and our products, visit www.tvilight.com