Effects of Smart Adaptive Street Lighting on Residents’ Behavior and Experiences: Results from a Field Test

Adaptive street lighting uses sensor technology to adapt luminance output to street activity to reduce energy consumption and light pollution. However, little is known about how residents experience and are affected by such systems. Therefore, qualitative data were collected via diaries with follow-up interviews, and a focus group amongst residents of a neighborhood in which adaptive street lighting had recently been installed. Using thematic analyses, three themes were extracted from the data. First, residents noticed the change in illumination from inside the home, creating a new kind of light pollution: light startle. Second, some residents used the lighting system for monitoring street activity—or at least had the urge to know who or wat activated the lighting. Third, the complex control algorithm did not afford residents in their competence to determine what caused the change in illumination. This in turn resulted in feelings of anxiety with at least one participant. Limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.