The Impact of Roadway Classification Street Lighting Policies vs. Dusk-to-Dawn

Marissa Wright

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Last updated May 25, 2026

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Article

Chart showing savings by applying standards-based streetlighting policies.

For decades, municipalities have relied on dusk-to-dawn photocell controls to automate street lighting. These legacy systems turn lights on at sunset and off at sunrise, regardless of established standards for roadway classification-based lighting design that adapt to pedestrian or vehicular activity, seasonal conditions, or public safety needs. But the landscape is shifting.

Thanks to advanced streetlighting controllers like Tondo’s Edge IQ, cities can now move beyond static operation and embrace standards-based, data-informed illumination improving both safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability goals.

The Limitations of Dusk-to-Dawn Lighting

Photocell-based dusk-to-dawn operation is simple—but inefficient. It burns energy at full brightness from sunset to sunrise, regardless of whether lighting is needed. Moreover, lighting assets are typically purchased at the nearest available wattage above design requirements, resulting in over-lighted conditions, increased energy costs, and increased glare that reduces safety.

While reliable and inexpensive, photo controls maximize streetlighting costs of operation:

“In the context of street lights, advanced controls offer energy savings over the traditional photocell control because they allow for street lights to dim or turn off during off-peak hours and a network that can inform operators when a light has failed” – LED Street Lighting Assessment and Strategies for the Northeast and Mid Atlantic, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, 2015

Challenges with Dusk-to-Dawn Controls

Wasted Energy: Lights run at full power, even during low-traffic periods (e.g., 3 a.m. on residential streets).
Shortened Lifespan: Running LEDs at maximum output reduces component life and increases maintenance frequency.
Higher GHG Emissions: Energy overuse contributes to unnecessary carbon emissions and utility costs.
Lack of Context Awareness: These systems can’t distinguish between a residential cul-de-sac and an arterial road.

In short, photo-controlled lighting may be inexpensive, but it’s not smart lighting.

Tondo Edge IQ + Cloud IQ: Smart Lighting Control

Tondo’s Edge IQ controller, combined with Tondo’s Cloud IQ AI-powered CMS, enables municipalities to apply ANSI/IES RP-8-22 roadway classification lighting standards through precise, tailored-to-fit lighting profiles.

Instead of one-size-fits-all control, Tondo’s smart roadway lighting controls leverage:

Roadway type (arterial, collector, local)
Pedestrian and cyclist volumes adjacent to or on the roadway
Time of day and traffic volumes

This results in targeted illumination that always meets safe lighting standards while reducing energy and operational costs.

“Lighting design should consider… pedestrian conflict locations, crash risk, and land use context.”
– ANSI/IES RP-8-22, 2022, Recommended Practice: Lighting Roadway and Parking Facilities

Key Benefits: More Than Just Energy Savings

By reducing lumen output during off-peak hours, Cloud IQ and Edge IQ AI-managed lighting control can extend LED fixture life.

1. Extended Equipment Life

The dimmed streetlight will run cooler, which can extend its life by up to 50%, compared to a streetlight that is set to its maximum lumen output.”
– ANSI/IES RP-8-22, 2022, Recommended Practice: Lighting Roadway and Parking Facilities

2. Lower Maintenance Costs

Lower operating temperature-induced stress and integrated diagnostics lead to fewer failures and maintenance events.

“The benefits of adaptive lighting are reductions in the following: Maintenance costs. Lamp and driver replacement cost as a result of extended luminaire performance. Traffic and travel interruptions due to maintenance operations.”
— Guidelines for the Implementation of Reduced Lighting on Roadways, US DOT FHWA-HRT-14-050, 2014

3. Lower GHG Footprint

Tondo’s smart dimming control contributes to energy reductions of 50–60% over static systems, supporting carbon reduction goals.

GHG Footprint Savings for San Jose CA, Fullerton CA, and Victoria B.C.

4. Improved Public Safety

Edge IQ aligns with FHWA and ANSI RP-8-22 guidance for illuminance and uniformity, ensuring safety without overlighting.

“These results indicate that maintaining a proper lighting design, with consistent [uniformity ratios], results in improved target detection distances, which strongly suggests improved safety as compared to extinguishing selected luminaires.”
– Guidelines for the Implementation of Reduced Lighting on Roadways, US DOT FHWA-HRT-14-050, 2014

“The amount of light required for a street or sidewalk is based on two significant criteria: the classification of the street itself and the level of pedestrian activity … Pedestrian activity levels do not remain constant throughout the hours of darkness, and in most instances the numbers of pedestrians present in a given area will be dramatically reduced in the late night and early morning hours.”
– ANSI/IES RP-8-22, 2022, Recommended Practice: Lighting Roadway and Parking Facilities

Use Case: Classification Lighting for Urban Roadways

Consider the City of San Jose’s lighting assets, commissioned vs. rated wattages, and roadway classifications assigned to each fixture. Under a dusk-to-dawn model, lights would stay at full brightness.

With Tondo’s Cloud IQ and Edge IQ applying corrections for over-lighting and roadway classification-based lighting profiles, results show the potential for a 54.2% reduction in energy consumption:

Energy Savings Impact of Roadway Classification-Based Lighting Levels – San Jose, CA

This analysis, based on City of San Jose open lighting asset data, Google Maps-sourced annualized traffic sampling, and ANSI/IES RP-8-22 relative average luminance values, shows how Tondo controls reduce both over-lighting and classification-specific excess illumination, producing a 54.2% net energy savings while optimizing safety by enforcing roadway lighting standards.

It is worth also noting the savings impact of varying city roadway composition and lighting asset inventories does not differ significantly. For San Jose, Fullerton CA, and the City of Victoria B.C., the estimated net reduction in energy use from dimming is shown in the chart below.

Comparison of net dimming energy savings estimates for San Jose, Fullerton, and Victoria

The Bottom Line: Safety, Efficiency, Longevity, and Climate Action

Summary of Benefits from Edge IQ (vs. Dusk-to-Dawn)

Energy Savings: Up to 60% reduction
Maintenance Savings: Reduced fixture failure, relamping, and truck rolls
GHG Reductions: Up to 60% reduction
RP-8-22 and FHWA Compliance: Safety-aligned lighting for all roadway contexts

Ready to Move Beyond Dusk-to-Dawn?

Tondo’s Edge IQ + Cloud IQ platform is more than a lighting controller. It’s a flexible policy engine that helps cities:

Apply lighting standards intelligently
Extend the value of critical infrastructure
Reduce energy and carbon costs
Prepare for future smart city integration

Put legacy dusk-to-dawn lighting policies behind us. Light your city with purpose, precision, and intelligence.

To learn more about Tondo’s Edge IQ platform and how it can support your municipality, contact our team or explore the technical documentation in the Tondo Solutions Guide.