Post by Psamathe on Aug 27, 2021 11:35:19 GMT
I hate streetlights. I've lived without them virtually all my life. I see them as a complete waste of money, carbon, etc. as well as polluting the night sky, damaging daylight cycles for wildlife, impacting wildlife behaviour, etc.. Many argue LED street lighting (directed down) is better at avoiding light pollution - but maybe I'm too much of a perfectionist as I still see it as bad and unnecessary (although better from a Climate Pollution aspect).
Live in the countryside and you manage, etc.
I enjoy astronomy and pollution of the night sky is one of my arguments against street lighting (though being honest it's probably one of the weaker arguments as it's disrupting a minority hobby I chose of to for personal interest).
But an interesting report today
Ian
Live in the countryside and you manage, etc.
I enjoy astronomy and pollution of the night sky is one of my arguments against street lighting (though being honest it's probably one of the weaker arguments as it's disrupting a minority hobby I chose of to for personal interest).
But an interesting report today
LED streetlights decimating moth numbers in England
“Eco-friendly” LED streetlights produce even worse light pollution for insects than the traditional sodium bulbs they are replacing, a study has found.
The abundance of moth caterpillars in hedgerows by rural roads in England was 52% lower under LED lights and 41% lower under sodium lights when compared with nearby unlit areas.
In grass margins, moth caterpillar numbers near LEDs were a third lower than in unlit areas, whereas sodium lights had little effect on abundance. The white LED lights are more energy efficient but produce more blue light, say scientists, which is the colour predominantly seen by insects.
Moths are important pollinators and provide essential food for birds and animals, but the total abundance of moths in Britain has dropped by a third over the past 50 years.
...
from www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/25/led-streetlights-moth-england-eco-friendly-sodium-insect-decline
“Eco-friendly” LED streetlights produce even worse light pollution for insects than the traditional sodium bulbs they are replacing, a study has found.
The abundance of moth caterpillars in hedgerows by rural roads in England was 52% lower under LED lights and 41% lower under sodium lights when compared with nearby unlit areas.
In grass margins, moth caterpillar numbers near LEDs were a third lower than in unlit areas, whereas sodium lights had little effect on abundance. The white LED lights are more energy efficient but produce more blue light, say scientists, which is the colour predominantly seen by insects.
Moths are important pollinators and provide essential food for birds and animals, but the total abundance of moths in Britain has dropped by a third over the past 50 years.
...
from www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/25/led-streetlights-moth-england-eco-friendly-sodium-insect-decline
Ian