tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post2837184182063904391..comments2024-03-13T23:35:16.711-04:00Comments on DCmud - The Urban Real Estate Digest of Washington DC: A Modest Icon Returns to D.C., The Washington Globe StreetlightKenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08295461340042242438noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-83815439824464679372013-04-06T09:51:14.448-04:002013-04-06T09:51:14.448-04:00The fascination with using obsolete technology tha...The fascination with using obsolete technology that wastes energy, causes glare and light trespass, and contributes to skyglow is irresponsible and unsustainable. In addition, these fixtures reduce rather than enhance visibility, which is what lighting is supposed to accomplish. <br /><br />The antique lighting fixtures that these emulate used gas flames and produced 2-5% of the light output that these monstrosities do. By caring more about what these look like during the day, than how they perform at night, cities do a great disservice to lighting design and the communities they install these into. These fixtures send 30-50% of their light into the sky and resident's bedroom windows. Do we really have so much money that we can throw away 30-50% of our energy? <br /><br />We also had dirt roads when these period fixtures were being used, but somehow we evolved to use paved roads. There are plenty of historical looking fully shielded lighting fixtures available, using acorn and globe fixtures should be against the law. <br />http://www.skykeepers.org/good_fixtures/ca-posttopdec.html<br /><br />The future of street lighting is the use of fully shielded LED fixtures that have adaptive controls to allow them to be dimmed and/or turned off when there are no cars or pedestrians. <br /><br />Wasting light is a bad habit that we can't afford.Bob Parkshttp://darksky.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-55050780543954676412012-01-12T23:32:45.855-05:002012-01-12T23:32:45.855-05:00The Washington Globe is a lovely ornamental light ...The Washington Globe is a lovely ornamental light fixture and fluted column support that can enhance the public realm and aid in the urban design of streets and places, but it is a poor source of lighting for sidewalks. And it and any other lighting selected need to be maintained or lighting levels will decline -- witness Pennsylvania Avenue. It was redesigned and reconstructed with a three-tier lighting system in the 1970s to 1990s. The Washington Globe lines the curb to enhance that important vista down the Avenue. At intersections where one has to see pedestrians crossing streets it used contemporary high-mast, shielded light fixtures at each corner, and to light the pedestrian way on much widened sidewalks it had a low art-moderne designed downlight or pedestrian light fixture. None of these have been properly maintained by the National Park Service since the responsibility for doing so was transferred to them on April 1, 1996. What a shame that all that time and expense is wasted and the National Park Service eventually will receive funds to replace all the fixture just as they received funds to replace the Mellon fountains in Farragut Square 20 or so years after they installed them because they didn't maintain them. The irony is that for an agency that professes to follow "green" practices, it adopts maintenance practices that have the completely opposite impact. They need to learn how good repair reduces the need for replacement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-70269388018854979812012-01-12T20:36:45.734-05:002012-01-12T20:36:45.734-05:00I've lived in Columbia Heights and Chinatown, ...I've lived in Columbia Heights and Chinatown, and I'm also a fan of Dark Sky lights. One simple thing that makes a huge difference is whether the light is pointing up or down. Those upward-pointing lamps may look pretty in the daytime, but they end up lighting the buildings and the sky, not the streets and sidewalks. I've found that the new downward-pointing globes are a big step in the right direction.tom veilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-82495017262369238692012-01-12T19:26:52.794-05:002012-01-12T19:26:52.794-05:00Yes, these streetlights are prettier than the curr...Yes, these streetlights are prettier than the current ones, thanks to the people getting rid of cobra lights. But yes, caps on lights not only prevent light pollution and give us back views of the stars, but they also don't unnecessarily intrude into windows, and reflect light back down onto the street, making them more efficient. DC is behind the times not getting such lights, many communities around the country have already done so.<br /><br />http://www.skyandtelescope.com/resources/darksky/Bright_Lights__Big_nbsp_Problems.htmlErinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-20092859066988444832012-01-12T17:23:19.591-05:002012-01-12T17:23:19.591-05:00Great opportunities exist to modernize the streetl...Great opportunities exist to modernize the streetlight operations in DC through the utilization of existing technology, while re-establishing the historic appearance of streetlights in very cost effective energy efficient ways.<br /><br />LED replacement is an extremely cost effective measure that enables more ability to direct the light, longer lifecycles w/minimal maintenace, lower energy consumption, and a cleaner light. The ROI for DC would be 2 to 3 years max depending on the type of bulb/fixture that is being replaced.<br /><br />The other major possibility is using dimming technology to control the wattages being consumed based upon ambient light, lunar cycles, seasonal changes, as well as providing the ability to have maximum lighting in emergency situations. Right now I compare our streetlights to a three-way lamp that is always kept at the highest setting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-25671777982210874422012-01-12T17:02:47.760-05:002012-01-12T17:02:47.760-05:00Isn't it mandatory with DC Sustainable energy ...Isn't it mandatory with DC Sustainable energy efforts that the lights be efficient and light the ground, not the sky?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-75155434009337790452012-01-12T14:53:56.960-05:002012-01-12T14:53:56.960-05:00Street and alley lighting, as a matter of public s...Street and alley lighting, as a matter of public safety, is at the heart of making neighborhoods safer and bringing families into developing areas. This small improvement leads to bigger and better outcomes, such as improved schools because there is a larger demand by an increasing population. Why not accomplish this with a standard design which is austhetically pleasing and meets electrical saving to the city. I hope the city in its capital planning decision uses this "public safety" criteria as part of the decision making rather than a "looks nice" criteria.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-6112952430729234482012-01-12T14:03:28.427-05:002012-01-12T14:03:28.427-05:00Great news! I was just about to write about DC'...Great news! I was just about to write about DC's unimpressive downtown street lights.Vanishedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02942586068943147334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-2537787760632419292012-01-12T13:59:49.336-05:002012-01-12T13:59:49.336-05:00yea as the others mentioned, the lights do not pro...yea as the others mentioned, the lights do not properly cast the light downward but instead waste energy and illuminate out. Just look at what residents did to the lamps on the north side of the 1400 block of P ST NW - the north sides of the globes are spray painted black!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-60536960861121144192012-01-12T13:58:18.835-05:002012-01-12T13:58:18.835-05:00Fantastic article. I will pay more attention to st...Fantastic article. I will pay more attention to streelights now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-31309236556081765292012-01-12T13:57:37.919-05:002012-01-12T13:57:37.919-05:00If they are paying attention, the lights should be...If they are paying attention, the lights should be required to have globes that have the tops coated internally with reflective material so the light is cast downward. Though this contributes to "dark skies" it can still end up being annoyingly bright around them.<br /><br />Shame to see millions of $$ going to something as unimportant as having consistency between streetlights, and not schools or other programs that might create jobs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-38268570427206748352012-01-12T13:50:06.214-05:002012-01-12T13:50:06.214-05:00No more fake plastic "gaslights". There ...No more fake plastic "gaslights". There are very exciting "dark sky" street lighting innovations:<br /><br />http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/26313Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-70419994370554495962012-01-12T12:34:37.691-05:002012-01-12T12:34:37.691-05:00I do like the Washington globe, but I think in som...I do like the Washington globe, but I think in some instances they are way too overpowered. Also, what Matt said@10:13. These lights tend to cast light everywhere, and not down. No sense in washing the entire side of a building, just light the sidewalks and streets below. Properly designed streetlights would also give some relief to folks who live adjacent to them. If you've got one outside your window, all the best window treatments in the world still can't keep all the light out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-39545394704103890982012-01-12T10:45:33.100-05:002012-01-12T10:45:33.100-05:00Informative article, thank you!
The bases of many...Informative article, thank you!<br /><br />The bases of many of the 1960s-era cobra head poles are rotting and in danger of imminent failure, which could be catastrophic. As the city transitions to these "Victoriana" looking lights, there are numerous intersections across the city with old and new designs, and it looks cluttered and unsightly.<br /><br />As an obsessed modernist, the new lights aren't necessarily my favorite, but I have to admit they are growing on me!<br /><br />Tom in (mid-century) Michigan ParkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-13570964815870403312012-01-12T10:13:18.224-05:002012-01-12T10:13:18.224-05:00Are the new lights Dark Sky compliant?Are the new lights Dark Sky compliant?Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-46616396506077238622012-01-11T18:48:12.115-05:002012-01-11T18:48:12.115-05:00Just as long as the 60's sodium pressure bulbs...Just as long as the 60's sodium pressure bulbs don't continue as well. The commercial world has gone to metal halide. Why is the orange glow of depression still in use?Sivadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-4928182281665984742012-01-11T16:27:36.585-05:002012-01-11T16:27:36.585-05:00Boston- A-list? PwahBoston- A-list? PwahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-23873574167106453662012-01-11T15:12:42.002-05:002012-01-11T15:12:42.002-05:00Very interesting article. Thanks!Very interesting article. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com