The new white LED streetlights

[Drummer]

I see that the city is replacing more and more streetlights with the white LED's. I've seen them on Crowchild and in Altadore. I don't like them... What does everyone else think? The glare from them seems much worse than the orange lights and I guess I like the orange colour better.

[calgarywinning]

I think if they took the time to correct the colour temp/measure and then get some coating they could control the temperature.

Bottom line is LED is going to save money in consumption and maintenance, but night lighting is partly ambient. It can be achieved with LED lighting.

[Joborule]

I like them. It took getting use to briefly just how bright they make everything look in a community road. I was use to them around the university land already though.

[Draug]

I don't like them. However, I don't mind the color, and they do illuminate the road good enough.

But, I find they don't cast ANY light past the road shoulder. You simply cannot see anything just off the road. It seems to me much more likely that something - a child, ball, dog, pedestrian, car without lights, etc - could blindside you by emerging from the darkness unseen.

[Buff]

Lethbridge did this a year ago, maybe two now. Initially there was an uproar that the City didn't investigate and that the light is going to cause illnesses due to the light spectrum playing havoc on people's sleep patterns. That went away quickly.

Overall they are pretty good. I don't have a problem with them, and I have not noticed the problem that Draug mentions.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Draug

But, I find they don't cast ANY light past the road shoulder. You simply cannot see anything just off the road. It seems to me much more likely that something - a child, ball, dog, pedestrian, car without lights, etc - could blindside you by emerging from the darkness unseen.

Ya, they need to go back to the old orange lights, well, that, or install some sort of light to the front of cars so that we could illuminate those dark areas ourselves. If only

[Muffins]

I have them in my neighborhood and I like em.

They light up the road pretty well and no orange glow coming through my windows at night.

[automaton 3]

As Buff mentioned - we've had them in Lethbridge for awhile. I really like them, and have had no issues with seeing off to the side of the road.

[ben voyonsdonc]

I live in one of the pilot communities and I really like them. The only downside is that they seem to be the same colour as car headlights so when I'm approaching an intersection, I often think there is a car coming from the intersecting road. Minor quibble though!

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

I live in one of the pilot communities and I really like them. The only downside is that they seem to be the same colour as car headlights so when I'm approaching an intersection, I often think there is a car coming from the intersecting road. Minor quibble though!

Easy solution. Force everyone to upgrade to HID's.

[V]

Originally Posted by Buff

Lethbridge did this a year ago, maybe two now. Initially there was an uproar that the City didn't investigate and that the light is going to cause illnesses due to the light spectrum playing havoc on people's sleep patterns. That went away quickly.

The 'uproar' was pretty much a couple star gazers that had some influence with one of your councillors. It was so hilariously minor that I was astonished just how big a deal it turned into on Council.

I've always been amazed with the negative reaction that we get from star gazers when it comes to LED. I've posted these on here before, but I really think it reinforces one of the biggest reasons you want to go to LED.

Spoiler!

Before

Spoiler!

After

The decrease in light pollution is dramatic. These pictures are from LA, where they've retrofitted over one hundred thousand luminaires.

Overall they are pretty good. I don't have a problem with them, and I have not noticed the problem that Draug mentions.

Different lights. We had it in Edmonton too, where the first LEDs we installed were incredibly efficient at lighting just the road, but it left the sidewalks dark. After the first couple neighbourhoods we changed the specification to allow for more backlight so that the sidewalks still got a bit of the light.

[Acey]

I love them in Lethbridge. It's like a whole new modern feeling city.

As modern as Lethbridge can feel, anyway.

[HarryH93]

I just noticed these lights on my street tonight, funny that this thread comes up the same day haha. I like them.

[Mazrim]

The difference is very noticeable in the areas where they're still in the process of adding them, like Glenmore/Sarcee/37th Street. It's a much more pleasant colour than the orange-red of the old lights. The glare is a little bad on Sarcee because the lights are lower to the ground due to clearance issues with the power lines, but otherwise I like them.

[Ducay]

Had the new white LEDs put in on my street yesterday. Definitely not as bright and the light itself is more "aggressive" (as opposed to being a reflected & diffused oragine light, its direct bright LEDs shining at you).

Not really for or against them, but imagine the cost savings are worth the decreased brightness.

[polak]

Hmmm. I'm trying to remember if Mahogany has white or orange. I honestly can't remember.

[Drummer]

I find that Calgary is slower at changing over our streetlights to LEDs compared to other cities. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing since the costs keep dropping the longer we wait.

[Erick Estrada]

I'm totally fine with them. The only issue I have with LED's on the roads in any way is the kids using aftermarket LED fog lights and driving lights. They serve no other purpose but to blind oncoming traffic and since when did having a car look like a lit up Christmas tree become cool?

[polak]

LED? Are you sure you're not talking about HID's?

Aftermarket LED's might look cheesy and lame but they shouldn't blind you:





I guess maybe if they're poorly done and way to bright? Personally hasn't happened to me yet. Poorly pointed or housed HID's on the other hand can go to hell.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Draug

..... It seems to me much more likely that something - a child, ball, dog, pedestrian, car without lights, etc - could blindside you by emerging from the darkness unseen.

a good reason to tell your kids to get inside when the street lights come on........i would also thisnk this is a win situation for people that sell balls for a living