New LA street lights too bright

[Liberal_in_LA]

LEDs lead the charge of the lights brigade in L.A.
Many neighbors like the upgraded streetlamps, which cast a better light for less money, but some say it's too bright an idea.

By Bob Pool, Los Angeles Times

June 2, 2010

Most talk glowingly about their neighborhoods' new nighttime look. But some residents are taking a dim view of bright new streetlights that are popping up across Los Angeles.

Energy-saving light-emitting diode fixtures are being placed on 140,000 of the city's roadside light poles in a retrofitting that engineers say will cut power usage by at least 40% and eventually save taxpayers an estimated $10 million a year.

Besides being cheaper to operate, the new LED lamps shine a whiter, wider and more even splash of light across residential streets.

The lights are being welcomed by most. Others grumble that the LEDs shine through their windows "like floodlights."


Some who live in the tightly packed Venice area where homes closely line narrow streets complain that the new streetlights are overkill.

"I thought Jesus was coming to my house on Saturday night … then I realized the city had replaced my streetlight with an LED laser beam!!!!!" one resident ranted on a community website. It's "like the police helicopter is just parked permanently over the house.":rofl:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0602-ledlites-20100602,0,1153038.story

[tammywammy]

1. Heh

:rofl:

[napi21]

2. Oh for god saake. Buy some drapes & close them at night!

Other than that, wht are you doing outside at night that you're so afraid someone else might see?

[jayfish]

5. Astronomy?

Light pollution is a real issue and there are few truly dark places left in the US. I have to go out into the National Forest to fully escape the glow of population centers.

FSH

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/light-pollution/klinkenborg-text
http://www.starrynightlights.com/lpIndex.html

EDIT TO ADD SUPPORTING LINK

[DBoon]

3. Venice does have its share of interesting characters

I'm surprised someone hasn't reported the lights as a UFO

[alfredo]

4. Shielding might help

[Statistical]

6. Why not turn it into a win win. Use led street lamps but w/ less LEDS

cheaper to make, not as bright, and even less power consumption, even more taxpayer savings.

I should be a consultant. That sentence alone has to be worth $100K.

[obxhead]

7. In a related story, air powered pellet gun sales spike in the LA area

yeah yeah, just kidding :silly: