"LED streetlamp aims to improve public's view of stars"

[Tibbz2]

Researchers believe they have come up with a new type of LED-powered streetlamp that could radically reduce light pollution.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22292129

 

Saw this on another site the other day, hopeful for a solution, but seeing as there isn't a prototype yet I'm not getting my hopes up. We really need something like this for the future though, before LP gets too out of hand!

[Perkil8r]

They'd be better to just switch the damned things off, reduce crime and anti-social behavior and allow us to see the stars all at the same time as costing nothing to do and saving money and the environment.

[Tibbz2]

Yeah but the trouble is most people want them kept on because they're scared that if there is no light outside youths will suddenly break into their houses!

[xanthic]

It's quite hard to go wandering around in proper dark without a torch. You'd be spotted miles away.

 

LEDs are great but they are being improved so fast that companies don't want to invest until the technology is more stable. Why buy today, when in a years time something twice as bright or half the energy requirements come out and you have to start over...

Edited April 26, 2013 by xanthic

[Daz Type-R]

Well at least someone out there is "looking" into the issue and the problem is yet again being highlighted on the BBC.

 

A very small step in the right direction, at least something is being done, better that then nothing at all.

[xanthic]

They've put them up in Sheffield - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20308297

 

Good design, light sources aim downwards. They will catch on, just needs councils willing to invest.

[dawson]

I contacted the Highways people to ask what was happening in my area about turning off the street lights at midnight, this is their reply:

 

"

Dear Dr Dawson,

 

Thank you for your recent enquiry.

 

All information on the progress of our Part Night Lighting Project can be found on our website at :

 

http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/travelling/roads/road-design-and-maintenance/street-lighting/energy-saving-project/

 

Under the Proposed Changes tab on the left side, if you search for West Bridgford you will see that consultation in this area is on hold until 2015.  This is because we’re evaluating the schemes we’ve already put in place and we want to give all schemes a full 12 month review prior to installing more part night lighting.

 

We are also investigating other forms of street lighting energy savings schemes such as the use of LED’s which were previously not economically viable.  However, as prices are reducing, these are becoming a more appealing alternative for our street lighting replacement schemes.  We are currently trialling LED’s on four different roads in the County and will know more once the trials are complete in mid-April.

 

I hope this information is useful.  Please let me know if you need anything more.

 

 

Regards.

 

 

Kendra Hourd

District Manager (Rushcliffe) – Highways South

Nottinghamshire County Council" 

[Daz Type-R]

Sounds promising, I may look that up shortly for my area and see if anything is in the pipeline.

 

Fingers crossed that at some point in the near future, we may just get some of our sky back!