An idea to reduce light pollution and energy use

[SgtMaj]

I had an idea that could help reduce light pollution and energy use... see what you think.

On lesser-used roads that have streetlights, what if we put peizoelectric strips in the road every 50 - 100 feet. The strips would be just enough to trigger a switch in the streetlights that would turn them on for a quarter to a half mile down the road, and would turn off any lights you just passed as you were driving unless another vehicle is within that distance behind you. Additionally install localized motion detectors on the individual lamps that would turn on each lamp for a minute if something in it's view was moving (like an animal crossing the road, or person walking down the road.

So what do you think?

[charadeur]

Good idea I think the problem is most of the street lights here are the metal halide lamps that would not come to full light until long after you passed by.

Light pollution is a big problem and has been for years. Just ask any amateur astronomer. I live a ways out of town and we don't need any street lights around here. I can see like in the downtown area during business hours after dark but I say turn them off after 10:00. OK maybe after 2:00am in the bar district.

[hotrod1965]

The best way is to start using LED street lamps. They use less energy and are more directional than normal lights. This will keep most the light pointed down at the street and less stray light in the air.

Visit http://www.theledforum.com/forum for more LED talk!

[greenteadrinker]

Whenever I have a green idea that will impact locally, I go to the city commissioners meeting.
Once a week they have an open forum for citizens to get their suggestion on the record. It works
part of the time. I suggested a right turn lane at a busy intersection here to ease traffic
(and wasteful idling) and they put it in.
I've also had green idea's written on their records about cfl's for all city and county buildings here,
power strips for the offices, rain water capture, grey water recycled for toilet flushing; amongst
others. Cities do listen; it saves them money. Just look at all the green things Chicago is
doing; a lot of that input came from "us".
So my suggestion would be to go to your local city meeting and get your idea's on record.
"Buy local, change local"

[eugene]

If there is that little traffic then is a light really needed? Vehicles have headlights so why have a street light in low traffic areas?

[SgtMaj]

If there is that little traffic then is a light really needed? Vehicles have headlights so why have a street light in low traffic areas?

They are often installed as "security" for nearby homes, etc... but nearly every residential street doesn't see enough traffic to warrant them being on all the time, and with the motion detectors they would actually provide better security as the light coming on would signal something or someone in the area.

[jcoffman]

Expense and maintenance may be a problem.... Its an interesting idea though. I agree more with the part about not really having street lights on low traffic streets too. I also think the LED lights would be the only option for something like this. The constant on off action of a bulb would quickly reduce its life time. Also is there a startup surge in some of these lights? If so, that repeated surge may eventually be enough to outweigh the power saved from being off.

[GFree]

Let's think about light pollution; not energy. If these peizoelectric strips simply switched on/off a resistor, and didn't turn off the light, then

1.) We could continue using ordinary street lights, because they're not shutting off, and thus the time needed to start up is not a factor,
and 2.)Light pollution would be decreased (although there would be no effect on the energy use).

[jcoffman]

But isn't the bulb itself in some of these lights what takes the time to warm up?

I also think a redesign of the lights themselves would help. There is a new shopping center by me that uses the coolest lights. They are extremely dim. At night, its more like full moon moonlight in the parking lot than lights. This maintains the safety of being able to see while at the same time it doesn't make you night blind when you leave the parking lot and drive away. In addition to these benefits, there is a not a lot of light pollution at all. The road is still dark while the parking lot is lit. Maybe this could be done on roadways?

[GFree]

ok, well then maybe we DO need to switch LED lights, because one- their light is far more direct, and they don't need time to warm up. But still, the use of a resistor is justified. The less the lights are shining, the less light pollution there will be, eh?

[jcoffman]

ok, well then maybe we DO need to switch LED lights, because one- their light is far more direct, and they don't need time to warm up. But still, the use of a resistor is justified. The less the lights are shining, the less light pollution there will be, eh?

But by using LED's would you not be able to get rid of the resistor at that point? Thus saving money, thus making it a more attractive option? I think you are talking about having it for the startup surge I mentioned? If so, then your right, they may still be needed, but I don't know enough about LED technology to know if there is a startup surge with them...

[hotrod1965]

The LED doesn't have a big start up surge, and they take a beating better, so turning them off and on won't bother them.

I will comment, and say that most people are not going to like the idea of not having streets constantly lit. Can be a good place for criminals to hide!

I just posted an article at www.theledforum.com/forum about how Ann Arbor switched over thier street lights to LED.

[David Balch]

I'd rather see a lot of them turned off, especially after midnite
Its a waste of power
Plus all the business that leave their lights on 24x7
We are on a dead end street, we don't need street lights but they are there
I'd much rather see 23w CFL lamp posts out in front of each home then the 400-500w street lights
People don't like it, put in their own lights
I have motion lights for security at my house

[hotrod1965]

I'd rather see a lot of them turned off, especially after midnite
Its a waste of power
Plus all the business that leave their lights on 24x7
We are on a dead end street, we don't need street lights but they are there
I'd much rather see 23w CFL lamp posts out in front of each home then the 400-500w street lights
People don't like it, put in their own lights
I have motion lights for security at my house

I think we all would rather have the lights off at night. However, there are a lot of people that would complain about it! There are also a lot of people who would take advantage of it.

[charadeur]

They are often installed as "security" for nearby homes, etc... but nearly every residential street doesn't see enough traffic to warrant them being on all the time, and with the motion detectors they would actually provide better security as the light coming on would signal something or someone in the area.

I always figured that street lights made it so the bad guys don't have to carry a flash light.