Solar Lighting and Accessibility: Lighting of the Mont-Saint-Aignan University Campus

Building a greener and more inclusive campus

As part of a national modernisation strategy, Crous Normandie is upgrading its student residences to reduce energy consumption and enhance comfort, inclusion, and sustainability. The initiative aligns with the France Relance Plan (crous-normandie.fr), which supports public-sector projects focused on energy transition.

The Panorama residence in Mont-Saint-Aignan required comprehensive upgrades. Before renovation, its outdoor spaces were insufficiently lit, with uneven visibility along pedestrian paths, an issue for student safety, particularly for those with reduced mobility. The renovation works included energy retrofitting of the building envelope, improvements to accessibility, and complete redevelopment of pedestrian pathways and lighting infrastructure.

This ambitious transformation reflects the dual objective of the Crous: to enhance living conditions for students while reducing the environmental footprint of its residences. (see the programm).

Challenge: combining performance, safety, and energy efficiency

The project faced a multifaceted challenge:

• Provide reliable, uniform lighting across pedestrian areas,
• Reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions,
• Avoid heavy civil works and grid connection costs,
• Respect the architectural and natural balance of the campus.

Traditional grid-connected lighting was neither financially nor technically optimal for these pathways. The Crous needed an autonomous, sustainable, and low-maintenance lighting system capable of ensuring security and comfort for all. At the same time, accessibility was a central priority. The Crous aimed to create safe, illuminated pathways that comply with PMR (Persons with Reduced Mobility) standards, ensuring that all students could navigate the residence independently and confidently.

The UP2, a smart and sustainable lighting system

To meet these expectations, Sunna Design proposed its UP2 autonomous solar streetlight, an innovation designed for urban and semi-urban environments (product page). Each unit integrates a solar panel, smart battery, and LED module in a compact, maintenance-free design that operates entirely off-grid.

The UP2 guarantees high-performance lighting thanks to Sunna Design’s intelligent energy management system, which optimises battery usage based on weather forecasts and night-time profiles. Even in periods of low sunlight, the lighting remains stable and efficient, ensuring continuous illumination throughout the night.

The Citeos teams, in partnership with Éclipse Diffusion, installed the new solar units along pedestrian walkways, focusing on key areas such as entrances, crossings, and accessibility ramps. The installation required no trenching or cabling, reducing the project’s environmental impact while accelerating deployment.

Sunna Design’s technical experts supported every stage, from feasibility studies and photometric simulations to installation supervision and commissioning, ensuring full adaptation to the local environment.

“This solar lighting project reflects our shared vision of a safer, greener, and more inclusive campus.”
— Crous Normandie, Mont-Saint-Aignan

Results: A safer, smarter, and more sustainable campus

Delivered in November 2022, the Mont-Saint-Aignan project has transformed the daily life of students. The new lighting enhances both safety and comfort, allowing residents to move freely at night through well-lit, accessible pathways.

The benefits are tangible:

• Improved safety: fewer dark zones, greater visibility, and a reinforced sense of security.
• Zero electricity cost: total energy autonomy through solar power.
• Reduced CO₂ emissions: every solar streetlight contributes directly to the university’s climate goals.
• Minimal maintenance: long-lasting components reduce operating costs.

This project demonstrates that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand, providing measurable results in both energy performance and social impact. The initiative also contributes to the energy renovation programme of the Crous Normandie, which encompasses several residences across the region as part of the France Relance framework.

For more details on the national recovery plan and its focus on energy-efficient public buildings, see France Relance in Normandy.

Social and environmental impact: solar energy serving the academic community

Beyond energy savings, the project embodies a human and environmental mission. The solar lighting of the Panorama residence enhances inclusivity, particularly for students with disabilities who can now navigate safely and independently.

Environmentally, it aligns with the Crous’s broader strategy of reducing the carbon footprint of its infrastructure while integrating renewable energy solutions. Each solar streetlight represents a small but concrete contribution to carbon neutrality and the energy independence of public campuses.

For Sunna Design, this collaboration highlights the strength of its solar lighting solutions for cities, campuses, and public spaces.
It also underlines France’s leadership in developing innovative, reliable, and sustainable technologies that address real-world challenges.