“Cool” Lighting for Biodiverse Cities

“Cool” Lighting for Biodiverse Cities

In the U.S. alone, urban areas with fewer trees and vegetation, also known as heat islands, can cause an increase in temperatures up to 7 degrees F.

While abundant in forests and rural settings, highly developed areas often have fewer options to grow enough trees and plants to reap the benefits they can provide. Buildings, roads and infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat, resulting in “heat islands,” urban areas with higher temperatures. This causes a chain reaction on hot days, with heightened electricity and water use as people try to stay cool.

First patented in 2017 with the first official installation in 2022, the Linné Lamppost stands to help grow significant vegetation without immense changes to infrastructure. The pole’s overarching design encourages plant life to climb from the base and across its four arms to form a tree-like shape. Since climbing plants do not have as deep or widespread roots as trees, they can be an ideal option to introduce more biodiversity, shade and vegetation where trees are not possible. This lamppost provides a framework for growth in any climate, with more than 200 climbing plant varieties. It also can hold a nesting box, called a biodiversity totem, which provides a habitat for bees, small mammals and birds.

Understanding that different areas have different needs for biodiverse structures, the lampposts have been developed to be fully customizable, with variable sizes, LED lighting, seating and planters. It also can integrate smart technology—such as sensors, charging ports, and technology to improve safety and connectivity. Additional custom lamppost installations are already in progress for 2023.

As temperatures rise and the call for growing eco-friendlier urban cityscapes increases, Valmont and Linné Paysage continue to pose innovative solutions, such as the lamppost, to conserve resources and improve lives for more than half of the world’s population living in urban areas.