LED Street lights being deployed around ATL, what do you guys think? (houses, neighborhood)

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by atl1221

Would like to see a major thoroughfare get them like Ponce or Monroe, although parts of Highland just got them N & S of Ponce.

i believe they're only replacing the residential streets at this point because they use lower wattage lights (either 150 or 250 watt sodium); the main thoroughfares use 400 watt sodium lights.

personally i think you could use the residential LEDs on the main roadways and use something even dimmer for the residential areas. this obsession with having everything lit up like a movie set is a new phenomenon. just because we have the energy to do it, doesn't mean we should. there's a certain level of brightness that aids in security and past that point it's just light pollution.

back in the 1950s, major roadway streetlights were only this bright:



if you go into older towns across the rural south you'll notice they still use lights only this bright. maybe that's a little on the dim side, but if you google LED street lights, this is the type of picture you see:



i shouldn't have to point out how much of an overkill and waste of electricity it is to light a road that doesn't even have sidewalks like this.

i'm just worried that when they get around to doing the roadways they'll put in crazy bright lights like that and we'll have to say goodbye to moonlit and starry nights.

[Pemgin]

As of today, Glenwood Avenue in Ormewood Park has these. Looked out my window and the street was much brighter than usual. Huge improvement.

[skbl17]

Outside the City of Atlanta, I noticed that LED street lights have been deployed along at least two thoroughfares in south DeKalb: Flat Shoals Pkwy. and Boring Rd..

- skbl17

[SElove]

They have also installed it in residential neighborhoods, south of 20. Never had a problem with the orange streetlights, but when they installed these, I do notice that they allow you to see anyone walking along the street better, without shining into my house. I do miss the warm glow of the orange lights, they made my neighborhood feel a little less cold.

[Vacanegro]

LEDs are the next wave - they are superior in every way to incandescent technology - even compact florescents.

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by Zanarkand A East

I'm sure I've already posted in this thread, but I've seen these lights spreading quickly in my area. The difference in lighting is huge, and I'm glad to see that garrish orange sodium glare off the street. I hope they put these everywhere.

I'm still not sure I have seen any, but I don't drive that often at night. I will cosign that I don't care for the ones that cast the orange-ish tinted beams. Many metro streets are curvy, and sometimes I think may be approaching a yellow or red light around the xorner when it's really just a street light.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by Vacanegro

LEDs are the next wave - they are superior in every way to incandescent technology - even compact florescents.

Not in every way superior to incandescent, but definitely compact fluorescent.

[magnetar]

The new LED streetlights showed up in Reynoldstown this week, and I love them. My street is so much brighter now, I actually feel comfortable walking my dogs after dark, when I didn't before. The color temperature is closer to the color of moonlight than the old orange lights.

Originally Posted by alco89

I'd just be happy with them finally fixing/installing lights of any kind on the interstates (which is the city's responsibility).

I definitely hope they keep replacing lights on streets with sidewalks before they worry about freeways.

[Mossberg]

Georgia Power handles all of the LED streetlight conversions on the wooden poles. The COA controls the lights on the metal poles.

You can actually put a request in on Georgia Power's website to have your neighborhood converted to LED.

I did it for my neighborhood a couple weeks ago and the lights were upgraded quickly. A Georgia Power representative even called me the next day after they were installed to ask me how I liked the new lights!

Here is the link.

Outdoor Lighting - Contact Us | For My Business | Georgia Power

[Caleb Longstreet]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

Has anyone seen the LEDs coming up around Atlanta? They seem to be replacing lights only in poorer neighbourhoods, like West End and Summerhill. I am interested to see what they will look like in a more urban context, like Downtown.
They seem to be better than the ones they installed last year around the AUC that were super bright and obnoxious. I do wish they'd go with a bit cooler "night time" colour, though.
What do you guys think of them so far?

We sell them in the way of parking lot lighting. They are way, eay overdue. They have finally replaced the traffic lights with LED's and its only growing.

Why?

1) they burn a fraction of the power of older lights. Ratio is about 4/5:1 in new versus old. That cuts the city and county's cost on power. Not that you will see any benefit in your wallet but, it cuts power consumption considerably.
2). Longevity. Most LED's are designed for 100,000 hours or more. Typically 11.5 years at a 8 hour a dau burn rate.
3) maintenance costs. Less trips to the light (read:longevity) mean less Costco taxpayer, however, don't expect a break. The county and city's are perfectly capable of wasting more elsewhere, ahem)
4) liminence. Doesn't dwindle with time. Incandescents, do. Safer, more consistent lighting.

It will be law in 5 years but for now, ou have to be mentally I'll NOT to use them. Period. Even considering acquisition costs. They are to lighting what synthetic oil is to conventional oil. No brainer. Use them.