Description
The new streetlight on Adsit Court is too bright and the color temperature is too high/blue. Blue light during the night has adverse health effects on humans, animals, and plants. See http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-led-streetlights-1.3940889. Also, the light pollution/trespass into our yards and homes is many times greater than the old light. The light that now shines into my windows through the top of the curtains makes it seem like it's dawn at 2am. It's hard to sleep.
Please replace with a light that's no more than 3000K and add blinders to direct most of the light to the street and sidewalk and not into private homes.
Thank you!
also asked...
Q. Please provide the pole number, if possible:
A. It's the only street light on adsit court
A. It's the only street light on adsit court
12 Comments
Acknowledged Cathy Chamberlain, BED Operations Administrator (Verified Official)
RE: Adsit CT street light:
While AMA did publish their recommendation for 3000K light color, they haven’t provided any information on how they got to that decision. A number of major lighting industry organizations (US DOE, NEMA, IES) have responded to the AMA policy even though they were not part of the discussion going into the revision of the policy. Their response was that the previous AMA policy was in complete agreement with current practices.
The light pollution/trespass is actually significantly reduced with the new light, as the light distribution is better controlled with LEDs and is achieved in the optics of the lenses. The actual light that was replaced was at the end of its life and was most likely down to less than 30% of its output, providing the false sense of lesser light.
At this time, BED doesn’t stock or install any LED lights that are 3000K light color or less. At this time our LED lights don't have "blinders" available. As mentioned above, light is controlled in the lens.
I hope that while this is not the solution you are looking for that it at least explains our position and answers your questions.
If you would like to discuss this further please feel free to email us directly; cchamberlain@burlingtonelectric.com or call 865-7463.
OldVtr (Registered User)
Ms. Chamberlain--
I find I'm disappointed by your response to my fellow Burlingtonian's observation and complaint. I'm sorry but I think you've replied in error.
The AMA consensus report
is well supported with thirty-seven footnotes. For instance, citing just one, see footnote number 28: Gooley JJ, Chamberlain K, Smith KA, et al. Exposure to room light before bedtime suppresses
melatonin onset and shortens melatonin duration in humans.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96:E463-72.
I am unaware of any consensus statement from US DOE et al. However, for example, I am aware of the following statement from just the first one visited, our US DOE:
"…While there's nothing inherently dangerous about LED lighting, it should be used with the same prudence with which we use any other technology. This means that although LED lighting is an energy-efficient way to illuminate streets, it's important to direct the light only where it's needed; to make sure the emitted spectrum supports visibility, safety, and the health of humans and other living creatures; and to limit glare for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers...The key takeaway from the AMA's guidance is the importance of properly matching lighting products with the given application, no matter what technology is used…."
Your assertion that "light pollution/trespass is actually significantly reduced with the new light" would appear to be contradicted by your admission that the new light, if of equivalent initial output, is in fact OVER THREE TIMES BRIGHTER than the replaced light! Also, I can't imagine that my fellow Burlingtonian would concur that the light distribution is better controlled (than the light replaced) as his observation that "The light that now shines into my windows through the top of the curtains makes it seem like it's dawn at 2am."
As for "solution", I'd suggest we have not seen even a start to a "solution" from our beloved BED. I have searched all the posted Electric Light Commission minutes without finding any mention of street lighting. Could you direct us to the minutes of just such a discussion by the Commission? If not, would you please see that it gets added to the agenda and that the agenda, including time, place, and public comment time, if any, is suitably posted well before the meeting on the Department's website.
(Please understand that I'm proud of my my publicly-owned electric utility and want you to live up to the high esteem in which we hold you.) Thanks!
Cathy Chamberlain, BED Operations Administrator (Verified Official)
btvguy (Registered User)
Cathy Chamberlain, BED Operations Administrator (Verified Official)
OldVtr (Registered User)
Cathy--
Just a nudge to remind you that some of us have been awaiting some sort of public discussion of this issue. (1)Did I miss an agenda item including this as a topic? (2)Is my fellow Burlingtonian still seeing intense "hot" light through the tops of his curtains at 2:00 a.m.? (3)Does the Department have a policy proposal addressing the intensity and spectrum of light from its streetlights?
--thanks and best
Cathy Chamberlain, BED Operations Administrator (Verified Official)
Jane Amis (Registered User)
Closed Cathy Chamberlain, BED Operations Administrator (Verified Official)
Reopened OldVtr (Registered User)
Acknowledged Cathy Chamberlain, BED Operations Administrator (Verified Official)
Thanks for catching it..
CivicCitizen (Registered User)
So shall we now take on Vermont Railway whose rail yard flood lights reach all the way to our back bedroom windows? Oh, and let’s throw some F35 noise into a larger livability issue.