Light pollution kills insects

[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?

[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.

[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

[Martin_B]

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

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.

[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

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

[dyqik]

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

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.