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Light pollution kills insects
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:29 am
by Grumble
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... SApp_Other
I feel that this needs some discussion. There’s been a massive shift in the last few years to whiter LED street lights. Not sure what can be done at this stage other than more research. Also, is it anything like as significant as insecticide usage?
Re: Light pollution kills insects
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 10:59 am
by Martin Y
Our street's lights were changed from high pressure sodium to LEDs a couple of years ago.
The new lights are white, but they are very much dimmer than the old ones, they're better shrouded so all the light shines down (you can barely see them from a distance) and most of them turn off at midnight, leaving just a few odd ones on at road junctions.
Re: Light pollution kills insects
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:23 am
by Gfamily
What's interesting it's not even the case that LEDs are more efficient than Sodium lighting (particularly Low pressure) for street lighting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_ ... efficiency
Re: Light pollution kills insects
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:20 pm
by Martin_B
No, but LEDs do have a longer lifetime (~35,000-50,000 compared to ~18,000 for LP sodium) so the lower maintenance/replacement costs would make them more attractive.
Re: Light pollution kills insects
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:41 pm
by Gfamily
Martin_B wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:20 pm
No, but LEDs do have a longer lifetime (~35,000-50,000 compared to ~18,000 for LP sodium) so the lower maintenance/replacement costs would make them more attractive.
Thanks - I wondered if that was part of the enthusiasm for them.
Our local conversion has been fairly effective at putting light where its most useful - but I would prefer a slightly deeper baffle around the lights - I think you should only be directly able to see the LEDs in the nearest lamp.

- street lights - before and after.png (81.12 KiB) Viewed 3089 times
Re: Light pollution kills insects
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 1:21 pm
by dyqik
Gfamily wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:41 pm
Martin_B wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:20 pm
No, but LEDs do have a longer lifetime (~35,000-50,000 compared to ~18,000 for LP sodium) so the lower maintenance/replacement costs would make them more attractive.
Thanks - I wondered if that was part of the enthusiasm for them.
Our local conversion has been fairly effective at putting light where its most useful - but I would prefer a slightly deeper baffle around the lights - I think you should only be directly able to see the LEDs in the nearest lamp.
street lights - before and after.png
You need an overlap on one side of the street, so that there's no deep shadows on the other side (or middle) of the street.