http://http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/02/11/ealights111.xml

They cannot be serious !

Nick

11/02/08

Rape-tastic!

Link is not working too many http's

Thats ridiculous! why not turn them off on motorways where they really aren't needed, they should leave them on in towns! What are they trying to do - push crime rates up!?

Your link should be -

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/02/11/ealights111.xml

Could be useful though, walk down the unlit street on a moonless night, trip 'accidentally' and claim compensation

http//www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/02/11/ealights111.xml

Trying again.

Nick,

11/02/08

l

I think its great if we get some money back on our council tax!!!

I pay for loads of money for stuff i don't want or use!! fekin joke!

The only thing i do really use that the council do are the bins however even thats a joke! At work the bin men will not take anything in a bin bag, but its all in the bin! what the hell does a black bag matter?!?!?!?!

I think its great if we get some money back on our council tax!!!

I pay for loads of money for stuff i don't want or use!! fekin joke!

The only thing i do really use that the council do are the bins however even thats a joke! At work the bin men will not take anything NOT in a bin bag, but its all in the bin! what the hell does a black bag matter?!?!?!?!

I think Buckinghamshire have been piloting the idea already this winter.

About three weeks ago, on a cold wet winter night, I had occasion to travel on a 2 mile section of the A40 near in between Beaconsfiled and Gerrads cross and guess what, the lights were out for the full 2 miles ! At eight in the evening ! This turned what is usually a easy drive on a busy semi-country road into a trial by ordeal.

Can this be the Councils trying to put the financial squeeze on the government - it's a bit late in the financial year to be doing this !

Nick,

11/02/08

think its a great idea.. i would turn them all off.. and turn off traffic lights french style,

the reduction in CO2 and light pollution would be fantastic and it would mean i got a better nights sleep.

If they are serious about this, it surely proves this country is slipping down the developmental slope and fast. Definitely, one for the English Tourist Board to put in the brochure - "Come to the UK - the best Third World First World country we know ! "

Sur le continent, where I travelled recently, many roadside lamp standards had their own mast-mounted solar cells over here only the traffic sensors have those !

Nick,

11/02/08

A much better idea is for the lights to be turned on and off as vehicles approach and depart a location - wasn't that featured in a recent car advert ?

Not such a good idea of course if you're Benizir Bhutto !

Nick,

11/02/08

Just thought of another one:-

"Come to the UK, never knowingly overlit - apart from camden market !"

Nick,

11/02/08

Clunkclick . . . I've never seen anyone reply to themselves so many times.

If they go ahead with this plan, does this mean I will have to rely purely on the "beer driven mental homing device" to get me home from the pub on a Saturday night?! :eek:

Or these . . . .

Headlights You Can't See | Popular Science

Nick,

11/02/08

They could save even more ££ by simply not replacing the lamps when they fail.. oh no wait they've already started doing that.

Guess it's time to invest in some decent nightvision goggles...

As with all new car technology it trickles top-down. So I think some of the beamers and mercedes have or are due to have this feature.

But the rest of us will be in a bit of a pickle - unless, of course, your're minded to buy some Eastern Block army surplus - luv those T 60s with the big IR lamp on the turret !

Judging by this evenings news on Sky that might not be surplus too much longer !

Nick

11/02/08

It's strange but should we be campaigning to get street lights in small villages so they can be turned off at night ......it's only the wimps in towns that have full street lighting........good idea would be to disable every other light and there will be light but they will save over half the energy.

Every lamp standard should have a hamster on a wheel. Oh no, what am I saying, that's UK peops role ! Can't have our Human Rights violated !

Seems with all the developments currently going on in this field that a little "Joined-up" thinking between government and industry could solve this one at the current level of provision, without the apparent need to turn the clockback to the dark ages !

What are we getting all these new nuclear power stations for ? Surely not for the sole benefit of EDF shareholders and the weapons industry ?

I say, if Blackpool illuminations can do it ! Swap all your incadescents and flourescents for LEDs.

Spend to save baby ! Spend to save.

Nick,

12/02/08

Why not stick those no good ch@vs etc in "hamster wheel" generators.

Then at least they'll be good for something.

Naah ! Councils would have a hissy fit clearing -up all those discarded B*gger King wrappers and C*ke cans and think of all those extra call-outs on the Fire Brigade !:eek:

Nick,

12/02/08

a few thoughts.

1 - run lights on reduced power between 12 and 5 (say 60%??)

2 - why not install photocells on every light to gen energy to replace the CO2 usage?

3- why not use LEDs instead?

Obvious solution is proximity triggered lights that come on when something is moving. Cannot understand why switch off should lead to more accidents if everyone just drives to the conditions and visibility.

As an occasional astronomer, I like the idea myself.

Chris

a few thoughts.

1 - run lights on reduced power between 12 and 5 (say 60%??)

2 - why not install photocells on every light to gen energy to replace the CO2 usage?

3- why not use LEDs instead?

Trouble is most street lights are sodium or mercury lighting and as far as I know cant be dimmed, they have a long start up time (anything from 2 to 6 minutes) and have to cool down before they can start up again so proximity switching wouldn't work.

photocells mean massive expenditure for batteries and inverters in each light

And LEDs just aren't power full enough at the the moment.

chepest and most cost effective way is to switch off lights like they are doing, but it wouldnt cost a lot more to switch off every other light, (they would have disconnect them completely or they would still use some power just like phone chargers do when left on with no phone to charge)

The other thing is it is perfectly possible to fit solar/wind powered lights when they are being replaced due to age or damage.....it will cost though and the rates/council tax would go up to cover it

Aint global warming a wonderfull thing...........