While designing new street lighting installations or dealing with reconstructions of the existing ones, lighting designers usually do not take into consideration all of the available means for energy savings and optimal performance. This paper offers a set of the most important recommendations regarding the relevant influencing factors for energy savings in street lighting, the majority of which represent the results and conclusions of original research. Recommendations which result from user needs and regard visual quality are also briefly presented. Taking all of these recommendations into account provides improvement of appearance and sense of security, as well as energy and cost savings. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.