Update: I happened to notice a truck working on some lights on yet another block where all lights were on in daytime. Hopefully the ones I reported got fixed as well.
In my travels around the ward, I've noticed a significant increase in recent months in the number of locations where street lights are on all the time. Unfortunately, I'm also noticing that 311 requests to address this problem are often taking a very long time to get responses.
Lights have been on around Prospect Sq. and 91st St. near the Metra station for weeks now, with no response to a 311 report made a while ago. How much money is the city wasting on electricity for hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of streets that are on 24/7 for weeks or months on end?
Here's a link to report Street Lights On Days. It only takes a minute to do this online, and if you have 2 locations around the corner from each other, you can enter that in the description.
Showing posts with label street lights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label street lights. Show all posts
Monday, July 24, 2017
Sunday, August 28, 2016
fixed, but not really
Over the last several months, I've noticed a number of locations where street lights are on all the time - on Longwood from 95th to 97th, westbound along 97th from Longwood, and in other spots. Eventually they go dark and aren't on at all. Then they get "fixed" and are on 24/7 again.
This has been a problem since the "upgrade" about a year ago, when many street lights that had been dark for a long time were relit, and all the street lights in our area got brighter. We really didn't need brighter lights or the increased light pollution that came with that increase in brightness.
When I see these lights on continuously for weeks and months at a time, I have to wonder how many thousands of taxpayer dollars are wasted on this unneeded use of electricity. How much extra pollution is generated in the creation of this electricity? Did a bunch of faulty sensors get installed, or is there another reason?
This has been a problem since the "upgrade" about a year ago, when many street lights that had been dark for a long time were relit, and all the street lights in our area got brighter. We really didn't need brighter lights or the increased light pollution that came with that increase in brightness.
When I see these lights on continuously for weeks and months at a time, I have to wonder how many thousands of taxpayer dollars are wasted on this unneeded use of electricity. How much extra pollution is generated in the creation of this electricity? Did a bunch of faulty sensors get installed, or is there another reason?
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
what's wrong with this picture?
What's wrong with this picture?
Ambient light conditions are quite bright, bright enough that the street light does not have any effect on lighting conditions or visibility, yet it is still turned on.
Several months ago, this light and many others in the 19th ward became brighter. At the same time, many of these lights started staying on much longer. They are often lit in conditions when no street lighting is required - a waste of electricity. In our current budget situation, can our city afford this kind of waste?
Ambient light conditions are quite bright, bright enough that the street light does not have any effect on lighting conditions or visibility, yet it is still turned on.
Several months ago, this light and many others in the 19th ward became brighter. At the same time, many of these lights started staying on much longer. They are often lit in conditions when no street lighting is required - a waste of electricity. In our current budget situation, can our city afford this kind of waste?
Sunday, January 24, 2016
more isn't always better
A few months ago, I noticed an unwelcome change on many blocks in our ward. Street lights got noticeably brighter, and lights that had been out for a long time were repaired. Some of the long-dark ones really weren't needed. The result: increased glare and light pollution, and uglier streets.
The increase in glare can make it tougher to see detail in the shadows as a pedestrian, cyclist or driver by keeping our eyes from adjusting to night vision conditions. Many of us now need blackout curtains to keep the orange glare out of our homes - not needed before this change. Having to spend time and money buying and installing heavy curtains was not welcome.
There is a common perception that brighter light creates safety. It may be true up to a point, but this recent change put us far beyond that point. If glare makes it harder to see, does brighter light help us in any way?
If our streets and yards have all the ambiance of a prison yard, does this create an inviting space that encourages more people to be out in their yards and on the streets? I'd rather have a little less light and a more pleasant environment for people to spend time outdoors, whether they are walking, biking, running, or spending time in their yards. Having more eyes on the street makes our streets safer.
The increase in glare can make it tougher to see detail in the shadows as a pedestrian, cyclist or driver by keeping our eyes from adjusting to night vision conditions. Many of us now need blackout curtains to keep the orange glare out of our homes - not needed before this change. Having to spend time and money buying and installing heavy curtains was not welcome.
There is a common perception that brighter light creates safety. It may be true up to a point, but this recent change put us far beyond that point. If glare makes it harder to see, does brighter light help us in any way?
If our streets and yards have all the ambiance of a prison yard, does this create an inviting space that encourages more people to be out in their yards and on the streets? I'd rather have a little less light and a more pleasant environment for people to spend time outdoors, whether they are walking, biking, running, or spending time in their yards. Having more eyes on the street makes our streets safer.
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