Street lighting is a key public service provided by public authorities at the local and municipal level. By an environmental point of view street lighting represent a substantial share of the cities’ energy consumption, accounting for 50% of the electrical consumption of most European municipalities [2013, Covenant of Mayors Network].
LIFE-DIADEME pilot project stems from the need to greatly reduce the energy consumption (GHG emissions) in the public sector whilst decoupling environmental impacts from economic growth. The project has thus a strong focus on low-carbon technologies (climate mitigation). In a Climate Change Mitigation context the urban scenario is not a LIFE 2015 listed priority. However the project, at the same time, it will exploit strong synergies with the Climate Adaptation Strategies on GHG emissions and sustainability of the urban environment. In particular the project will:
Comply with the “Environment Action Programme to 2020” of the 7th EAP (1386/2013/EU), and, also, the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change ( COM(2013)216 final), by providing technological tools for gathering relevant information on traffic, noise, and air pollution in cities, and by supporting cities resilience to the climate change.
Comply with Climate Change Adaptation Priority 2015: urban adaptation. The EU Adaptation Strategy states that LIFE funding for adaptation will give priority to projects that address key cross-sectoral, trans-regional and/or cross border issues. Projects with demonstration and transferability potential will be encouraged, as will green infrastructure and ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation, and projects aiming to promote innovative adaptation technologies, such as those linked to the urban adaptation initiative (‘Mayors Adapt’).
The LIFE-DIADEME project will allow to quickly respond to climate change by allowing to cut energy consumption (and thus GHG emissions or possible heat waste from energy generation or traditional high-temperature lighting points) in an urban context. At the same time it will provide, through its sensors technology, a very relevant distributed system for gathering data on noise, traffic, air pollution and traffic (and thus GHG and particulate matter emissions from vehicles), which will strongly support present and future climate adaptation initiatives.
LIFE-DIADEME aims at demonstrating a novel and cost-efficient adaptive street lighting dimming system that will substantially reduce street lighting energy consumption (30% with respect to the state-of-the-art pre-programmed systems), and thus CO2 emissions, and maintenance by 30%.. The project outcomes will thus have a tremendous socio-economic and environmental impact (Climate Mitigation and Adaptation) at the EU and global levels.

LIFE-DIADEME partners are fully aware that the members of such an innovative project could seek for funding also on other EU instruments (mainly H2020). However, they believe that the LIFE 2015 programme (“Traditional Project”) is the most suitable funding instrument for the following reasons:
It aims at contributing to the development and implementation of Union policy on climate change mitigation.
It aims specifically at contributing to the shift towards a low- carbon and climate- resilient economy and to the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment in the EU and worldwide. LIFE-DIADEME will also contribute to the development and demonstration of innovative climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies, systems, methods and instruments that are suitable for being replicated, transferred or mainstreamed. Moreover, the present project foci and objectives are complementary with the other EU funded actions, since they are not covered by any other EU funded actions (e.g. H2020).
It aims at promoting and developing green infrastructure and sustainable approaches in cities (Green Procurement).
It act as a catalyst for, and promote, the integration and mainstreaming of climate objectives into Union policies and public and private sector practices.
It contributes to the implementation, updating and development of European Union environmental policy and legislation, thereby contributing to sustainable development and low-carbon society (“A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050” – the “Roadmap 2050”).
Moreover, differently from other research focussed programmes, like Horizon 2020, LIFE-DIADEME addresses knowledge gaps on damage and adaptation costs and benefits, including regional and local- level analyses and risk assessments.
As also stated in the “Environment Action Programme to 2020” of the 7th EAP (DECISION No 1386/2013/EU), LIFE 2015 aims, in particular, at: i) turning the Union into a resource-efficient, green and competitive low-carbon economy; ii) reducing GHG emissions and enhancing energy and resource-efficiency in the Union; iii) enhancing. the sustainability of the Union’s cities; iv) address international environmental and climate challenges more effectively.
LIFE-DIADEME fully responds to the LIFE call, by demonstrating:
To be in line with Proposal for a Directive of the European parliament and of the council on energy efficiency and repealing (2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC) regarding the Energy Efficiency. The Energy Efficiency directive brings forward legally binding measures to step up Member States efforts to use energy more efficiently at all stages of the energy chain – from the transformation of energy and its distribution to its final consumption. LIFE-DIADEME will clearly demonstrate an innovative technology characterized by a consistent reduction of energy consumption, at the highest safety level in urban areas.
To be in compliance with the EU Adaptation Strategy (COM(2013)216) and the Mayors Adapt initiative (LIFE – EU policy priorities for 2015).
To be in compliance with the Green Paper “Lighting the Future” (COM(2011)889) towards the reduction energy use of lighting by 20% by 2020 as compared to 1990.
To be in compliance with Europe 2020 Strategy and Resource Efficiency, regarding Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions (20% saving) and increase in energy efficiency (20%) with respect to 1990 values. Moreover by 2050, the EU aims to cut its emissions substantially – by 80-95% compared to 1990.
To be in compliance with the Europe 2030 Energy framework on 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target of at least 40%, and at least 27% for renewable energy and energy savings by 2030, compared to 1990 values.
To be in compliance with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in particular on stopping the growth in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and reduce them by 60% by 2050 compared with 2010. Also, the EU has committed to a second phase of the Kyoto Protocol running from 2013 to 2020.
To be in compliance Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS) and Directive 2012/19/EU on regulating the disposal of discarded electronic devices in EU, in particular regarding LED lamps at lighting devices.
LIFE-DIADEME will clearly demonstrate a novel and cost-efficient adaptive street lighting dimming system characterised by a much lower energy consumption (whilst maintaining high safety levels in urban contexts) as compared to state-of-the-art technologies.