On Jan 8, 1:45*am, TimR wrote:
Do you know what is considered more important by the average American,
the sun or the moon?

Overwhelmingly the response is the moon. *It's a no-brainer. *The moon
is out at night, when it's dark and we really need the light. *The sun
is out when it's already day. *Doh.- Hide quoted text -

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Not talking about street lights in any particular country, including
America!

BTW this same item was posted on a news group populated by those from
a European country.

Their response were, if anything more factual, giving examples of
communities who do and do not turn off their street lights after
certain times, at night. Along with generally sensible comments and
references and quotes from newspaper articles about street light
situations. Also some technical comments about street lighting
techniques, retrofitting older and/or newer street lighting systems.

There was very little (or nothing) in the way of smart-alecky or nasty
commnets.

An interesting debate however, from both the North American posting
here and that other one.

BTW; a detail. Some communities install street and other lighting that
minimizes light pollution upwards, directing a greater percentage of
the light downwards and onto the areas where it is most effective. One
benefit is to assist astronomical observations.

Thanks anyway to all who posted for throwing some light on the topic.

It's after 1.00 AM here and in this community with some 300-400
municipally financed street lights nothing moves, except maybe for the
one motorist heading home after working late. And the lights will
shine on until around 6.00 AM. Our electrcity is hydro generated so
there is actually no change in pollution/global warming by the
consumption of the electricity as would be the case with burning coal
or other fossil fuel..