Alisa

LETA, January 28, 2026

In Latvia, the modernization of the lighting system has been completed this January on 52 sections of state roads, implementing light regulation or dimming functionality, informed the state-owned company “Latvijas valsts ceļi” (LVC).

Last year, a total of 1,730 old sodium lamps across the state road network were replaced with LED lamps featuring dimming capabilities, thereby reducing electricity costs and improving lighting quality.

The new LED lamps are equipped with lighting intensity regulation, allowing adjustment of illumination to the actual situation. Specifically, lighting is provided at maximum power until 22:00; from 22:00 to midnight, power is reduced to 70%; from midnight to 05:00, lighting is further reduced to 30%; while from 05:00 to 06:00, the power is gradually increased.

In preparation for the lighting system modernization, LVC, with support from the Development Finance Institution “Altum,” conducted an energy audit carried out by SIA “Ekodoma.” During this audit, lighting calculations were developed for each state road lighting facility. Subsequently, a lamp specification was prepared, complying with green procurement requirements and the recommendations of the Procurement Monitoring Bureau (IUB). Thus, the LED lamps supplied during the procurement meet the technical requirements set by the client, states LVC.

Based on the energy audit calculations, the possible energy efficiency target for the state road lighting modernization was planned at 1,500 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year. LVC indicates that, based on an evaluation of two months’ results after modernizing half of the facilities, even before implementing the dimming function, this target will be achieved.

LETA has already reported that the lighting modernization was carried out using the existing electrical cable infrastructure and poles. The new LED lamps are installed in place of the old ones, and the lighting profile is maintained in the existing configuration.

An open tender at the end of 2024 resulted in a contract signed with SIA “RCG Lighthouse” for the modernization and maintenance of the state road network lighting system for the next three years.

The planned procurement price was 3.2 million euros, but as a result of the tender, it decreased by 347,000 euros to 2.852 million euros. According to the contract, the company’s obligations include maintaining the existing lighting facilities, remote monitoring of equipment, periodic maintenance, and prompt elimination of operational disruptions. The supplier must also carry out the modernization of outdated lamps.

The state road network lighting system comprises 8,414 lamps, illuminating a total of over 200 kilometers of state roads. In 2024, 55% of the lamps in the state road network were LED-type lamps, which, among other things, can be adjusted to traffic intensity. During the contract period, the supplier must replace the remaining 45% of outdated lamps with energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lamps, explains LVC.

In 2025, on 52 national road sections, SIA RCG Lighthouse replaced the existing 1,730 sodium high-pressure luminaires with LED lighting. The new LED luminaires are equipped with lighting intensity regulation (dimming) functionality, allowing the illumination to be adjusted to the actual situation.

At the beginning of 2026, it is planned to adapt the lighting modes in the modernized sections to the traffic intensity or pedestrian flow at specific locations. This will involve reducing the lighting brightness during periods of low traffic and increasing it during heavier traffic or unfavorable weather conditions.

“We are pleased and proud that RCG Lighthouse has been entrusted with such a significant task—modernizing the lighting across the entire national road network. We have been working in this field since 2013 and have gained extensive experience. Lighting modernization allows for significant reductions in electricity costs and CO2 emissions, as well as making roads safer. The new LED lighting achieves higher color rendering and brightness contrast, meaning visibility in darkness and twilight will be much better, making driving more comfortable and safer,” emphasized Raits Bebris, a member of the board of SIA RCG Lighthouse.

As a result of an open tender at the end of 2024, the company RCG Lighthouse was awarded the right to carry out the modernization and maintenance of existing lighting in the national road network for the next three years, starting from January 2025. RCG Lighthouse participated in the tender together with the company SIA Mītavas Elektra.

Brigita Buividaite, Chairwoman of the Board of SIA Mītavas Elektra, highlighted: “We highly value the opportunity to participate alongside RCG Lighthouse in the national road lighting modernization project. The task of Mītava Elektra in this collaboration is to ensure the maintenance of the lighting. Our 28 years of experience in the industry and internationally recognized ISO quality standards confirm that this project will be implemented at the highest level, promoting a safer environment for road users.”

The contract entails ensuring the maintenance and periodic servicing of lighting fixtures in the national road network, as well as modernizing the road lighting infrastructure by installing energy-efficient LED lighting over three years. The tender amount for the three-year period exceeds 2.8 million euros (for maintenance and modernization), and the planned annual savings in electricity costs after the lighting network modernization are 1,632 megawatt-hours.

Over the next three years, RCG Lighthouse will be responsible for maintaining the lighting infrastructure under the supervision of the state-owned company “Latvijas Valsts ceļi” (Latvian State Roads), as well as carrying out modernization involving the replacement of 3,649 lighting fixtures on 105 national road sections.

The company RCG Lighthouse has also modernized lighting networks in several Latvian municipalities, such as Tukums, Alūksne, Salaspils, Jēkabpils, Augšdaugava, and others. By the end of 2025, RCG Lighthouse has installed and is responsible for over 14,000 LED street luminaires across the entire territory of Latvia.

Tukums Municipality has completed a major energy efficiency project, replacing old lighting with modern LED luminaires in 45 different municipal institutions. The project was implemented using the ESCO (Energy Service Company) investment and cooperation model. This means the Contractor, in this case RCG Lighthouse, provided all initial investments for project implementation, committing to ensure long-term electricity savings for the Client. Consequently, the Client repays the Contractor from the funds generated by the electricity savings. The total value of the lighting modernization contract over 7 years is EUR 541,708 excluding VAT.

Modernization work was carried out across the entire municipality, covering a wide range of institutions: pre-schools, primary schools, secondary schools, and parish administration buildings. In total, nearly 10,000 lighting units were replaced.

By switching to LED technology, the total installed lighting power in the buildings was reduced by more than 50%, which directly contributes to lower electricity bills – after project implementation, electricity consumption for lighting is also expected to decrease by more than 50% compared to the previous period.

In addition to financial savings, the new lighting improves light quality and intensity, creating a more favorable environment for students, teachers, and institution staff.

The project, which is the largest by number of buildings in RCG Lighthouse’s practice to date, was completed in 7 months. To avoid disrupting daily operations, the most intensive work was carried out during the summer holidays when schools are not in session. Successful implementation, considering the large territory of Tukums Municipality and the specific needs of each institution, required particularly careful work logistics and planning.

One of the project’s main advantages is the long-term support ensured by the ESCO model. During the contract period over the next 7 years, RCG Lighthouse will take responsibility for ensuring the operation and maintenance of the institutions’ lighting, without additional costs from the municipal budget. This ensures predictable costs and technical support.

RCG Lighthouse approached the implementation of this project with experience gained from successfully executing similar projects in Liepāja and Daugavpils. This experience allowed them to successfully manage the project’s scale and complexity, which is confirmed by the client’s feedback.

The Tukums municipality expresses satisfaction with the cooperation and results:

“In cooperation with the Tukums municipality, RCG Lighthouse proved itself as a reliable and professional partner in implementing the energy-efficient lighting replacement project in 45 municipal institutions. We like how the company works – the team is responsive, flexible, and capable of quickly finding solutions even in complex situations. We have previously successfully collaborated with RCG Lighthouse on street lighting replacement projects, so this time the work also proceeded smoothly and clearly. Overall, we are very satisfied with the cooperation and the results achieved.“

The project clearly demonstrates how, with the right partnership and modern energy efficiency solutions, direct economic benefits can be achieved, infrastructure quality improved, and the environment cared for.

From May to October 2025, significant changes took place at the National Art High School. In place of the old, inefficient lighting, modern, effective LED lights were installed.

The goal of this six-month transformation was to reduce costs, optimize maintenance, and—most importantly—create better-quality lighting for students and teachers.

The path to these results was not simple. The National Art High School combines several specialized educational institutions, such as the Riga Dome Choir School, the Janis Rozentāls Riga Art School, the Emīls Dārziņš Music Secondary School, and the Riga Ballet School. The light fixtures were replaced both in the buildings of the Emīls Dārziņš Music Secondary School and at the Riga Ballet School in specialized practice halls, where young ballet artists spend long hours training. These halls have special flooring that requires particular attention. During installation at heights of several meters, special caution and care were taken to assemble the structures without damaging the flooring.

Thorough preparation before the work began, careful attention to the school’s wishes, and continuous collaboration with the institution’s representatives helped implement the project without unnecessary obstacles. The result is valuable for everyone: the school now enjoys more pleasant and uniform lighting, which enhances both the learning process and creative work.

Regarding these transformations and how they were achieved, RCG Lighthouse project manager Mareks Kudulis emphasizes that the key was openness and willingness to collaborate on both sides to find solutions. “The client promptly resolved issues that arose during the installation process,” acknowledges Kudulis, “and the ability to coordinate the installation schedule efficiently—I would call that the most important challenge, which the school’s technical staff handled successfully!”

The school’s acting director, Sveta Baltā, positively evaluated both the results achieved and the collaboration process itself, describing it as professional, with a serious approach and a high sense of responsibility from the contractor’s staff.

In the autumn of 2025, a large-scale LED lighting modernization project was successfully completed in several municipal buildings in the Madona region. The project, implemented by the company RCG Lighthouse, began on April 4th and concluded on October 3rd, fully transforming and upgrading the lighting in twelve educational, cultural, and childcare institutions.

The new systems provide tangible benefits for students and teachers alike, as well as for the municipality and the local community as a whole. Educational institutions now have high-quality, balanced lighting that improves concentration and visual comfort, creating a pleasant working environment for teachers and staff.

As part of the project, more than 3,400 light fixtures were replaced, which will significantly improve energy efficiency – electricity consumption has decreased from 250.46 kW to 86.16 kW, ensuring substantial savings for the municipality. LED lights have a longer lifespan, require minimal maintenance, and come with a 7-year warranty, guaranteeing safe and reliable use.

This modernization is about more than just saving energy. It is an investment in sustainable infrastructure and an environmentally friendly future: LED lights do not contain harmful substances such as mercury and reduce the volume of electronic waste. The project demonstrates the municipality’s commitment to implementing innovative, technologically advanced solutions that enhance residents’ quality of life and set a positive example for other municipalities.

Today, Madona shines not only with light but also as a model of sustainable, safe, and modern infrastructure, where quality, efficiency, and community well-being go hand in hand.

Municipality of Jelgava has made a significant investment in the quality and sustainability of education by successfully implementing a project to modernize the lighting systems in all educational institutions within the municipality. The project was fully executed by the company RCG Lighthouse, which provides a full project cycle—from planning to maintenance.

The main goal of the project was to improve the quality of the learning environment by replacing outdated light fixtures with modern, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly LED solutions.

As part of the work, lighting was modernized in all school premises – in classrooms, hallways, sports halls, and other rooms.
This step allowed for a significant reduction in electricity consumption (kWh) and provided a modern, uniform, and learning-appropriate illumination, which is important both for eye health and for students’ ability to concentrate.

The entire scope of the planned work was successfully implemented within six months, strictly adhering to both quality standards and the deadlines set in the Contract.

One of the project’s biggest challenges was the application of various lighting installation solutions for different types of rooms.

Each school presented several types of ceilings – from suspended ceilings and plastered surfaces to massive concrete structures, which required different installation techniques and equipment choices.

Professional lighting calculation software was used in the project implementation, allowing for the precise determination of the required illumination level for each learning space. Light fixtures were selected and installed that not only meet technical and quality requirements but also harmoniously integrate into the interior.

The project created substantial and long-term significant added value for both the educational institutions and the municipality.

Students and teachers gained a comfortable, visually friendly, and learning-conducive environment that promotes concentration and work efficiency. The municipality and its residents, in turn, gained a safe, energy-efficient, and sustainable solution that not only reduces energy costs but also frees them from daily maintenance problems:

• Reduction in energy consumption by 63–64%. This creates significant annual savings for the municipal budget.
• Reduction in CO₂ emissions. The project is environmentally friendly, as it reduces the volume of carbon emissions.
• Lower maintenance costs. The long lifespan of LED fixtures means fewer replacements of broken lamps and less waste.
• Free guaranteed maintenance service. Under the contract, RCG Lighthouse replaces burnt-out light fixtures free of charge. This reduces the administrative burden and maintenance costs for the municipality, allowing resources to be directed to other priorities.

Riga, August 2025

The “Damme” shopping center in Riga has become a brighter, more modern, and visually appealing place following a complete lighting system modernization, successfully implemented by full lighting as a service company RCG Lighthouse.

The project aimed to replace outdated lighting with energy-efficient, modern LED technology, significantly improving both the lighting levels and the overall atmosphere in the premises and surrounding areas.

The project was completed quickly and efficiently within just six months of signing the contract, adhering to the agreed-upon deadlines.

The main challenges at the “Damme” shopping center were related to the complex lighting design, the creation and installation of new lighting circuits in areas where they did not previously exist. Most of the work was carried out during night hours after the shopping center had closed, to avoid disrupting operations and inconveniencing visitors.

RCG Lighthouse board member Raits Bebris emphasizes: “Our goal is always to create solutions that combine functionality, aesthetics, and energy efficiency. The ‘Damme’ shopping center project is an excellent example of how LED technology can transform the atmosphere of a space while delivering sustainable benefits.”

The new LED lighting not only enhances the shopping center’s visual environment but also clearly reflects the management’s long-term vision—to create an environment where visitors feel comfortable, tenants operate efficiently, and sustainable, eco-friendly solutions are prioritized.

RCG Lighthouse is a leading provider of lighting solutions, specializing in the design, supply, and installation of high-quality, energy-efficient, and modern LED technologies. The company’s mission is to create effective and aesthetically appealing lighting solutions that enhance spaces and preserve nature.

Changes have been made to the lighting system at Sigulda City Secondary School, resulting in significant energy savings and improved lighting quality.

– Total number of LED lights installed: 1,300
– Initial lighting power: 124.5 kW
– New LED lighting power: 33.6 kW
– Power reduction: 72%

The project’s goal was to fully transition to energy-efficient LED lighting while ensuring optimal light intensity.

The project was completed within the set timeframe—six months from the contract signing in November 2024—demonstrating efficient planning and execution. The successful implementation was supported by the extensive experience of RCG Lighthouse, which has successfully completed over 120 similar projects in various facilities.

This modernization is significant for both the municipality and residents. The sports hall and other spaces now have higher-quality lighting, and the expected annual financial savings amount to €20,000.

Last year, lighting modernization was also carried out in the main hall of Sigulda Sports Center. In the near future, similar lighting upgrades are planned for other educational institutions and municipal buildings in Sigulda Municipality.

The transition to LED lighting is a major step toward sustainable and economically viable urban development. The project demonstrates that improving energy efficiency can be achieved without additional financial burden on the municipality, while also delivering real savings and better conditions for students and school staff.

The Ditton shopping center has carried out—and continues to implement—a major lighting modernization, transitioning from outdated lighting technologies to energy-efficient LED lighting.

Ditton is the largest shopping and entertainment center in Daugavpils and the Latgale region. Located in the very heart of Daugavpils, on a historic marketplace site, it serves as an excellent destination for shopping, leisure, and socializing for everyone.

At the beginning of the year, more than 2,000 light fixtures in the shopping center were replaced, with traditional fluorescent and halogen lamps being swapped for modern LED lighting solutions. These provide higher energy efficiency and a longer lifespan.

This step is part of the center’s long-term development strategy, which focuses on implementing eco-friendly solutions and optimizing overall costs.

“The shopping center’s goal is to provide a comfortable, bright, and safe environment for our tenants and visitors while prioritizing sustainability and energy efficiency,” emphasize the representatives of Ditton shopping center.

The switch to LED lighting will allow the shopping center to reduce electricity consumption by up to 60% per year, as well as lower daily maintenance costs.

The project was implemented in several stages to ensure that the work did not disrupt the shopping center’s operations or customer comfort.

This initiative is another step toward a more sustainable future, where Ditton not only serves as a shopping destination but also sets an example of responsible business practices in the region.

In May 2025, the Riga Metalworking Vocational Secondary School, in cooperation with the company RCG Lighthouse, completed a lighting system upgrade project, successfully replacing 600 light fixtures with energy-efficient LED solutions in a single work season. This project has made a significant leap in quality—improving the comfort of the learning environment, reducing energy consumption by 52%, and ensuring long-term savings.

Efficient Implementation Despite Challenges

The main focus during the project’s execution was on scheduling the work to minimize disruption to the learning process, especially during the exam period. Thanks to the leadership of the school’s director, Uldis Plūmīte, and the responsiveness of the staff, all work was completed strictly within the set deadlines.

“I am very demanding—I need everything to be on time and better than others!” commented a school representative.

Experience and Professional Approach

The project was implemented by RCG Lighthouse, a company with years of experience in similar projects for educational institutions and other facilities.

“It’s easy to work when both sides understand the common goal and strive for the best result,” said the company’s representative, Mareks Kudulis.

The completed project is an outstanding example of effective collaboration, creating sustainable solutions—delivering both economic and social benefits for the educational institution and its surroundings.