The lack of street lighting becomes an opportunity to rethink the city

The LuminoKrom® photoluminescent alternative: combining safety, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness

Light shapes our perception of cities. For decades, public lighting has symbolised safety, modernity and urban comfort. However, faced with the energy crisis and environmental imperatives, many French municipalities have chosen to switch off all or part of their streetlights. This development, motivated by budgetary, environmental and technical reasons, raises an essential question:

How can we continue to guarantee user safety at night without compromising our energy efficiency commitments?

In this context, LuminoKrom® photoluminescent paint is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional street lighting. By storing light during the day and releasing it at night, it provides continuous, autonomous visual guidance without consuming electricity or causing light pollution. This innovation enables local authorities to illuminate their communities in a more sensible and sustainable way.

The observation: public lighting under pressure

Municipalities forced to review their energy model

Street lighting accounts for a significant proportion of energy consumption in many towns and municipalities. For some French local authorities, street lighting accounts for 40% of a municipality's electricity bill.

At a time when energy costs are skyrocketing, this budget item is becoming a major issue for cities. To limit expenditure, some are reducing lighting times; others are opting to switch off some or all lights at night, particularly in small rural communities.

But beyond economic constraints, this shift also reflects a growing awareness that the cleanest energy is inevitably the energy we do not consume. Energy efficiency is therefore becoming a central focus of local public policy. For example, in France, a Territorial Climate, Air and Energy Plan (PCAET) is supported by the French government.

Street lighting: comfort, safety and environmental impact

Street lighting has historically played an essential role: ensuring safety when travelling at night, showcasing heritage sites and reassuring residents. But it also has an environmental cost that is often overlooked. By reducing light intensity, significant energy savings can be made, which reduces costs for local authorities and contributes to the fight against climate change.

Light pollution has a profound effect on biodiversity: it disrupts the life cycles of insects, disorients certain species and migratory birds, and disturbs bats and nocturnal flora. Artificial light also degrades the quality of the night sky, depriving certain regions of the natural beauty of the stars. This is why certain lighting restrictions are adopted to protect areas sensitive to light pollution, such as nature reserves, national parks and astronomical observatories.

When switching off becomes a political and ecological choice

More and more municipalities are opting for rationalised lighting. Certain types of street lighting are switched off after a certain time (usually between 11 p.m. and midnight) or in areas with little traffic in order to preserve the dark sky, these ecological corridors allowing plants and nocturnal species to live without light disturbance.

Reducing public lighting in favour of dark skies can serve as a model for raising public awareness of the importance of responsible use of outdoor artificial light and the need to preserve night-time darkness for biodiversity.

However, this approach is not without consequences: in villages or residential areas, total darkness can create a feeling of insecurity and reduce visibility for cyclists and pedestrians. It is precisely in this context that alternative lighting solutions to energy-intensive street lighting, such as LuminoKrom®, come into their own.

Energy transition at the heart of regional policies

Local authorities are now at the forefront of the energy transition. In search of sustainable solutions, they are reviewing their infrastructure to reduce CO₂ emissions and optimise consumption. Night-time planning is thus becoming a testing ground for inventing new forms of lighting that are less energy-dependent and more respectful of ecosystems.

Opting for certain alternative and eco-sustainable lighting methods can be a solution:

• Spectrum-adjusted LED lights: LED lamps or luminaires can be designed to emit a narrower light spectrum, reducing the proportion of blue light. This reduces disturbance to nocturnal wildlife and minimises light pollution for biodiversity. Spectrum-adjusted LED lamps are often used in dark sky areas and light-sensitive spaces.
• Directional lighting: Light fixtures and lamps can be designed to direct artificial light downwards towards the area to be illuminated, rather than scattering light and its intensity in all directions. This reduces light pollution in the surrounding area by limiting the amount of light that escapes into the sky.
• Adaptive lighting: Lighting systems, including LED lamps, equipped with motion or brightness sensors can adjust according to actual outdoor needs. For example, connected streetlights can automatically turn on or off when people or vehicles are present, minimising unnecessary urban lighting at night.
• Smart lighting: Street lighting systems can be integrated into smart grids, which enable more efficient lighting management. These systems or lamps can be programmed to adjust light intensity based on the time of day, weather, season, and other factors.

The expectations of citizens and users

Today's citizens are calling for solutions that combine safety and simplicity. Soft modes of transport such as walking, cycling and scooters are creating new requirements for night-time visibility, particularly in suburban areas where lighting is limited.

LuminoKrom® meets this expectation: making night-time mobility safer without turning streetlights back on. Photoluminescent paint can be used to mark important areas such as pavements, pedestrian crossings, stairs or paths, thereby improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists at night by making these areas visible without constant electric lighting.

An innovation born out of a responsible approach

LuminoKrom® is the result of research by OliKrom, a French company specialising in smart colour-changing pigments. Our solution is developed and produced in France, according to a rigorous eco-design approach that incorporates life cycle assessment (LCA). Each formulation and each stage of production aims to minimise environmental impact while ensuring the performance and durability of the markings.

By choosing LuminoKrom®, local authorities are not only supporting technological innovation, but also French industrial expertise focused on ecological transition.

How does photoluminescence work?

LuminoKrom® technology is based on a simple, natural yet powerful principle: storing light during the day and releasing it at night or in the dark. The photoluminescent pigments incorporated into the paint absorb natural sunlight outdoors or artificial light indoors, then release this energy in the form of luminescence for several hours. Our innovation transforms cycle paths, pavements, car parks and pedestrian areas into spaces that are visible at night, without light pollution.

The result:

• Zero electricity consumption
• Zero permanent light emission (no disturbance to wildlife)
• Zero infrastructure: the paint is applied directly to the existing surface.

A solution that has already been tried and tested in the field

Since 2017, LuminoKrom® has been used for hundreds of kilometres of road markings in urban and industrial environments in France and around the world. From the greenways of Charente-Maritime and the Arcachon Basin to the cycle paths of the Paris region, the cities that have adopted our technology report impressive results:

Traditional street lighting is very expensive to install and maintain. Photoluminescent markings are more suitable, partly because they do not add to light pollution.

Sophie Rigault, conseillère départementale en charge des mobilités et de la voirie - Essonne 

Photoluminescent markings clearly identify routes, intersections and hazardous areas, while blending discreetly into the daytime urban landscape. We have developed a wide range of photoluminescent products to suit all projects and ensure durability and resistance once applied. For example, our range of solvent-based paints is mainly designed for road use and is formulated to withstand weathering and wear caused by repeated traffic.

Tangible benefits for local areas

The advantages of LuminoKrom® can be seen in three areas:

A shared commitment with local authorities

Local elected officials play a decisive role in the transition towards more energy-efficient and sustainable regions. Many of them have understood that it is no longer possible to "light up everywhere, all the time". They are looking for innovative solutions that guarantee safety without increasing the carbon footprint.

Local experiments conducted in the past with LuminoKrom® were part of this dynamic: concrete demonstrations of smarter urban planning, where light becomes a temporary landmark rather than an energy constraint. Today, these experiments have given way to concrete, rapidly expanding regional implementations.

Luminokrom® does not replace public lighting, it complements it.

The aim is not to "replace" streetlights or other artificial lighting solutions, but to offer a smart complement. LuminoKrom® ensures visual continuity where lighting is switched off, spaced out or deemed unnecessary. It is part of a sensible urban planning approach, where each technology finds its rightful place:

• Street lighting for high-traffic areas,
• Photoluminescent markings for low-traffic, rural or suburban areas.

This hybridisation plays a key role in creating a sober city, a city that remains safe without being overlit.

Examples of complementary uses

• Greenways and cycle paths: ensuring route visibility without installing expensive street lighting.
• Small rural communities: reducing energy costs while maintaining safety for night-time travel.
• Natural or protected sites: a solution that respects biodiversity and complies with the environmental requirements of Natura 2000 areas.
• Parks, walking areas, car parks: improving user comfort and visibility at night.

LuminoKrom® s’impose comme un outil d’aménagement au service des transitions écologiques locales, conciliant économie, écologie et innovation.