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LED street lighting the newest challenge to old utility business models

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Re: LED street lighting the newest challenge to old utility business models

#51

Post by Angostura »

csmuk wrote: post #36
sudomal wrote: post #35

They have been installing LED street lights in the UK for a while now. The LED supplier approaches a council, the council agrees to pay the supplier the difference between their normal and new lighting bill for X years. The supplier gives them the relatively expensive LED lamps (which talk to each other wirelessly) and management system. The council installs them. Supplier makes money from the price difference.

And they're horrible. They just put them in down my road and it's like prison searchlights compared to the old lighting. To add insult to injury they put CCTV cameras on every alternate lamp as well.

And they're fine. They've just installed them in my area in East London.

The only disadvantage I've spotted is that, with the old Sodium vapour lamps, it was easier to spot when a car was coming around a bend since the headlight colour was significantly different to the ambient streetlighting. I'll adapt.

Re: LED street lighting the newest challenge to old utility business models

#53

Post by Angostura »

dingaling wrote: post #34
Aloha wrote: post #11

I call BS on this: "But in most cities around the country, the local electric distribution company provides overhead street lighting as a basic service at a flat monthly rate per light, which includes the light itself, maintenance, and electricity. Therein lies the rub—regulated utilities often have little incentive to invest in more efficient streetlights, which offer a reliable, consistent, and often lucrative reve…

It's also a statement only applicable to the USA. In the UK the Roads Service ( NI ) or Highways Agency are responsible for the emplacement and maintenance of lighting. So they'd be quite grateful for any power saving, as the electricity distributors charge them for actual usage. Another solution would be to eliminate most street lighting, but that's a rather touchy subject.

I think that's only on trunk roads isn;t it? The local authority has the responsibility in towns.

Re: LED street lighting the newest challenge to old utility business models

#54

Post by [deleted] »

Angostura wrote: post #51
csmuk wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And they're horrible. They just put them in down my road and it's like prison searchlights compared to the old lighting. To add insult to injury they put CCTV cameras on every alternate lamp as well.

And they're fine. They've just installed them in my area in East London. The only disadvantage I've spotted is that, with the old Sodium vapour lamps, it was easier to spot when a car was coming around a bend since the headlight colour was significantly different to the ambient streetlighting. I'll adapt.

[deleted]

Re: LED street lighting the newest challenge to old utility business models

#55

Post by sudomal »

maayank wrote: post #45
Eye_of_Mordor wrote: post #39

Here's my plan: use street lighting for a wireless mesh and stick camera's in each one so the NSA can keep us all safe.

csmuk's comment says they do just that in the UK (consider this comment as a GOTO statement)

More info here for those with an interest: http://www.leafnut.com

Re: LED street lighting the newest challenge to old utility business models

#56

Post by tghw »

abduhl wrote: post #17
tghw wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They could be built as a part of the light, since we're changing all of that out anyway. Really not that hard. Also, contractors shouldn't be studying compliance for new things. And you would pay them as you're installing the new lights. So not out of the "goodness of their heart" either. In fact, I have no idea what you're trying to get at here.

Most items installed on a transportation project must meet the standard specifications for the state which generally incorporates federal requirements as needed. Anything installed must be "per spec" and manufacturers or contractors installed items that are not per spec can be grounds for a refusal of payment or refusal of acceptance. Specifications compliance is solely the responsibility of the contractor (who gener…

Contractors don't spec roadway lighting, engineers do. The engineers provide guidelines that are (or should be) easy for the contractors to follow. Likewise, the DOT asking for bids could require certain types of lighting.

It's not always a quick process, but we do get innovations with some regularity.

Re: LED street lighting the newest challenge to old utility business models

#57

Post by csmuk »

Angostura wrote: post #51
csmuk wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And they're horrible. They just put them in down my road and it's like prison searchlights compared to the old lighting. To add insult to injury they put CCTV cameras on every alternate lamp as well.

And they're fine. They've just installed them in my area in East London. The only disadvantage I've spotted is that, with the old Sodium vapour lamps, it was easier to spot when a car was coming around a bend since the headlight colour was significantly different to the ambient streetlighting. I'll adapt.

Good point.

Perhaps they put good ones in your area. I live in a cheap borough.

These ones are so bright and not diffused at all. It makes silhouettes of everything through my windows.

Re: LED street lighting the newest challenge to old utility business models

#58

Post by nkurz »

danudey wrote: post #50

The Lion's Gate Bridge, which I believe is the busiest bridge in Vancouver, BC, relatively recently upgraded their lighting to LED. It reduced power consumption by 90%, and saves the city $30,000/yr in energy and maintenance. In addition to the power savings, the old bulbs lasted an average of 72 hours between replacements, while the new ones have an estimated lifetime of 12 years, and replacing them is the 'hidden'…

You've accurately quoted the cited article, but that "72 hours" in the article is itself uncited and has to be in error. Normal mercury bulbs are good for 10,000+ hours, and 100W is well within normal. Maybe it was supposed to be 72 months? If you are strong enough to wade into Wikipedia politics, the edit came in here: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lions_Gate_Bridge&...

Re: LED street lighting the newest challenge to old utility business models

#59

Post by abecedarius »

dsr_ wrote: post #43
abecedarius wrote: post #42

Won't the blue in the spectrum from these disrupt people's sleep even further? http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Let...

If you're sleeping under the streetlights, you have bigger problems.

It doesn't seem to take much exposure to damage your sleep. A friend reported that the fluorescents in the subways made a real difference.

Our society is still really stupid about sleep.

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