Monday, March 28, 2016

LED lights by Siemens too bright in Lake Worth

Comment Up

Dear Friend and Neighbor,

During the rainstorm Thursday night, I got an urgent call from a member of Dark Sky Lake Worth. 

I was told that a new LED streetlight was installed at the southwest corner of N Palmway and 5th Ave N.  It replaced an old burnt-out high pressure sodium streetlight. High pressure sodium streetlights are what we currently use in the City.

There were definite concerns about the LED light being too bright. Felt like daylight was being mimicked all night long, and that it light-trespassed into neighbors yards and homes .

I bicycled up to that corner before sunrise Fri. morning to see it myself.  I agree this street corner is over-lit and there is light trespass into yards and windows of the houses.  (With the new LED technology we can get good and ample lighting with lower wattage lights.  We do not have to settle for this level of harshness.  It is also cheaper for the city to use lower wattage lights.)

Last night, I took another member of Dark Sky Lake Worth to look at this new LED streetlight.  This member also agrees that it is too bright. (see attached photos & letter)

At the only public hearing last fall, Dark Sky Lake Worth officially went on record in opposition to LED streetlights that are way too bright – we called for 19-watt LED lights for neighborhoods, which is equivalent to the 80-100 watts in High Pressure Sodium lights currently in use which is ample and safe lighting for residential areas where people want to also sleep at night)

I am writing to ask you to go see this new streetlight yourself.  

I am available to join you tonight, Monday night, or Tuesday night around 8:30 p.m. 
Please call me at 561-231-3509 if you would like to go to see this light at 5th Ave N & N Palmway.

After you see the light yourself, I would love to have you write city officials, especially Mayor Triolo and City Manager Bornstein, and ask that the city not order anymore LED streetlights that are this bright, and that you don’t want these super bright lights on the street where you live and sleep.

Time is of the essence, because the city has a contract to buy more LED streetlights and you don’t speak up now, you will soon find one of these bright lights on your street corner.

Richard Stowe
Co-Chair, Dark Sky Lake Worth
561-231-3509

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh no, don't tell me. This commission got into another bad contract.

Anonymous said...

Oh My Friggin God!!! first it's too dark now it's too bright, WTF!!!
STOP complaining about stoopid shcizz...enough already!!

Lynn Anderson said...

Let's just get it RIGHT. This is costing the city a hell of a lot of money. So do you believe in anything being done right?

Anonymous said...

anony at 9:04 above. whatever is your problem. We have a professional group, experts on lighting who give an opinion, and all you can do is tell them to shut up. Who in the hell are you? Someone from the darkside I would suspect.

Anonymous said...

I live around the corner and feel like we need more street lighting not less with lots of homeless walking around and the Holiday House being used as a sober home. But I've not actually seen this light in person yet so will go check it out.

Anonymous said...

Yes, we have some very dark streets with no lighting. And now some really horrible bluish street lights that are crazy bright and a sickening hue. Neither is good. Let's get it right!!

Anonymous said...

The cost savings to the city are GUARANTEED by Siemens. The light given out is distributed more evenly, lighting up a larger area and appears brighter.

I've never liked the hue of LED's either but that is what everyone is going to if you want to save the kind of energy we need to save. Get used to it and close your drapes. The streets will be safer and more of your street will be better lit.

Anonymous said...

NO THANKS. Not going to get used to it. Siemens specifically said the new lights would not be blue. Dark Sky Lake Worth went out of its way to be helpful and show the city how to illuminate streets without harsh glare and without horrid light pollution. Now take down these damn blue lights!!!!

Anonymous said...

So people tell me why all utilities like FPL do not install these lights and yes LWU's and the Commission thinks it is best for us. Really???

Anonymous said...

Just drove by to see this light.It's the only one like this in the area. Was it a mistake ? It looks very odd and out of place. The glare was almost unbearable. Way too bright. How could anybody think this is OK? Katie Mcgiveron

Anonymous said...

Dude, you bought a house on federal with a street light in front of the house and you wanna preach about light pollution and dark sky's? Wtf is wrong with you is the green light on all night messing with your brain, seek help!

Lynn Anderson said...

Mr. Stowe, co-chair of dark Skies Lake Worth, is talking about an entirely different light at North Palmway and 5th avenue North...not on Federal Highway. Why do you have to be so rude?