On Jan 7, 9:56*am, Jim Redelfs wrote:
In article
,
*terry wrote:
Often wondered why street lights on all night.
The value of overnight street lighting was established CENTURIES ago. *
It provides improved public safety, particularly crime suppression.
Wasted energy etc.
One man's "waste" is another man's "value".
unnecessary pollution where electrcity is generated
by coal or other fossil fuel.
True "pollution" by such industries has all but been eliminated,
compared to a mere, few decades ago. *Most so-called environmentally
conscious or proactive folks are not old enough to remember how things
were. *I remember black clouds of coal smoke. *"Chimney scrubbers" were
developed and deployed, to name just ONE of the many improvements that
have made low sulphur coal combustion almost clean.
...and carbon dioxide, a gas produced by ALL living creatures, is NOT a
pollutant despite baseless, contrary claims.
Could save some small municipalities some cost?
On the surface or "up front", eliminating overnight, public lighting
might appear to save some money. *In reality, the CO$T to a community
from such "savings" would quickly become apparent in the form of
diminished public safety (increased accidents, etc) and increased crime.
If you think there are too many tire slashings and window smashings NOW,
just turn off the street lights for a while and see how much such crime
increases.
Apparently a German town/city has decided to turn them off.
Great. *Let them test such folly - then get back to the rest of us.
However provision is made for residents to call a telephone code that
will switch them on for a timed period in their area. The call can be
made from a home phone or from a mobile/cell phone etc.
That's almost a cliche of the Environmentalist Wacko movement: *Spend
millions of dollars to save a few dollars. *Penny-wise and pound-foolish.
So it would appear that a householder could turn them on; as could
someone making a late night delivery, a taxi driver looking for
certain street etc.
The irony of such technology is that it ignores the very basis of what
has driven mankind since the wheel: *Cost vs value.
You can bet that at least ONE householder in each area would turn the
lights back on - EACH NIGHT - just for the security they offer.
It is simply appalling to me that so many (too many) folks believe that
such a system would be a good thing. *They are incapable of seeing
beyond the simple function of turning off a street light.
I am honestly concerned for the future should such folly take an even
greater hold of our society. *There are so many BETTER things to concern
us and on which we should spend our money.
--
* * * * * * 
JR
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This is great. Was hoping to get ALL views of such an idea. Additional
views are most welcome. Please.
Here; in addition to two or three street lights within view from this
home in a smaller town not too far from a small city in North America
we have the following for outside 'night' lighting.
1) One 50 watt 'long life' bulb over front door step. This mainly to
ensure that there is a steady light in case someone does come to the
door and for visiting neighbours who drop in for a chat and cup of
tea. It also would satisfy an insurance requirement that we, as
householder provide suitable lighting. The bulb is on for about ten to
12 hours per night (at this time of year). And is replaced every few
years. It can be reached by standing on a chair. It can also be
operated on/off via a key chain 'fob' similar to that used as car
remote door opener.
2) Motion detector twin light fixture over garage door; it operates
only after dusk and comes on when a person or vehicle is about half
way up driveway. Presently adjusted to stay on for several minutes.
Long enough to get groceries out of vehicle.
3) Similar motion detector on other end of house where there is some 8
to 10 feet clearance from fence and next house is some 50 feet away.
This sometimes gets operated by a prowling cat or tree movement during
heavy winds.
4) Two enclosed bulb fixtures 40 watters IIRC, on patio deck, operated
by a switch located next to sliding glass doors to deck at rear of
house. Occasionally operated, don't think have replaced a bulb in them
for past 5 years.
There is very little activity either walking or vehicles after say
1.00 AM. With my existing lighting the street lights could be out I
reckon. In fact if my motion detector lights came on in otherwise
darkness it would signal neighbours opposite that something was moving
around my house..
Oh by the way it is possible to, electrically, connect to the output
wire of those motion sensors and via, say a low voltage transformer,
operate a buzzer or even use the low voltage as input to my house
alarm system.