Saving energy through eliminating street lights
Posted May 13th, 2008 by sue_vanderzee
A recurring theme in Middlefield has been reduction of the number of street lights to save money and energy. Middlefield currently has about 33 miles of roads and spends $68,000 for approximately 450 street lights, at an average cost of $12.65 per light per month. Durham, with 59.65 miles of roads, according to the 2007 State Register, budgets $43,000. Do you feel that cutting out street lights -- in Middlefield and/or Durham -- is an effective way to save energy?
Streetlights
Yes, many lights in Middlefield could be turned off - there are places I can stand at Lake Beseck and see 12-18 lights - that is far too many. To those homeowners who are concerned about lighting the area in front of their house, I suggest they purchase a front light for their yard and pay for the electricity themselves.
Streetlights
There are too many streetlights in these two towns - as well as the rest of the state for that matter. Street lights started out for safety at road intersections and sharp curves. This was later expanded to the ends of cul-de-sacs and places where the were a lot of night time accidents to improve safety. It was only when the politicians get involved and used streetlights on e campaign trail did it get out of hand. I do not understand why the original criteria can not be used to evaluate the current streetlighting program and when a light does not fall in the program remove it, If the property owner wants it let them pay for it. Constant daylight is not a good thing.
streetlights
Just speaking for durham we have approx 150 street lights. the majority of them (100-110) are located on rte 17. One would wonder why we got stuck paying for lights that belong to the state. The other lights are usually located at the intersection of two roads or at a curve or at the end of cul de sacs. I'm all in favor of placeing a light anywhere it is justified due to public safety. However, when riding up through the center of town you can literly turn your headlights off and still have enough ambient like to see clearly and safely. Try it you will be amazed. The same volume of cars that pass thru this short stretch of road must use rte 79 or rte 77 or even continue down rte 17 where the number of streetlight dwindles to less than ten along each stretch. Amazing all those cars don't crash due to the lack of streetlights. I agree save money shut off the useless lights that are not needed. While your out driving at night look at the total missuse of energy by all the lights that adorn not only the commercial buildings but also the public ones too. Then you start to wonder why your electric bill costs so much. If we put a stop to wasteing energy maybe we just might keep a valueble resorce lasting just a little longer. Peace n out
Street Lights
I agree that there are too many street lights, and that if homeowners are concerned about safety, then they should purchase motion sensor lights or the like.
I personally would love the town to shut off the street light that beacons into my bedroom at night. (and my neighbors, who often leave a slew of lights on around their house all through the night.) Light blight is definately an increasing problem. Yeah, I know- close your shades...but I like to see the night sky-that's one of the reasons why I live in the country!
Turn em off!
Thankfully there are no streetlights in front of my house, but looking out my back window I can see two streetlights on a short section of Valley View Drive. There are a bunch on School Street which is now no longer a through-street, and only a few people live there. This is an easy way to save money, but Mr. Brayshaw got cold feet when a few old folks and some other whiny, complainy types registered their displeasure with the idea. We can't let a few people dictate policy for the rest of us.
Middlefield Streetlights
The issue is not saving energy, but saving taxpayer money! Turning off all the streetlights except those needed for safety is a good way to accomplish that savings. Let's DO it!
Middlefield Streetlights
Turn them all off. Then turn back on the ones that meet a strict definition of safety. Do it one by one at a public hearing so that the people demanding the lights are known. If any street or area wants lights enough that they want to pay for them then let the cost be added to their tax bills.
The state won't allow enough electrical generation so we are paying premiums on our electric bills. Burning usless lights does nothing good for the enviroment. So saving electricity is a no brainer. If someone can't see driving with just their headlights they shouldn't be driving at night.
Also we need to get after the state. It's ridiculous the amount of lighting along Route 66. It looks like an airport runway. The lights on one side of the highway could be shut off and there would still be way too illumination.
the one light that definatly
the one light that definatly needs to go is the light connecting Washington street to Peters lane. With the turn arrow taking up to five minutes to turn green there are moltiple oppertunities to turn if the light was flashing red rather than a steady stop light.
Now Here's a Lightbulb!
I'm glad this subject has received at least some attention. Many townspeople have commented on the unnecessary streetlights in both towns, and to think that it has produced so few actions as of yet is upsetting. Why should taxpayers have to pay for something they are specifically against? Perhaps asking more people to consider the uselessness of a majority of streetlights can help put some power behind all these words. As a concerned student in town, I hope the members of Durham and Middlefield can use their influence and education to really step up and decrease energy and tax waste.
Gone for good, or just shut off?
By "cutting out," do you mean shutting off, or getting rid of the streetlights all together?
Most of the year, we probably do not need a portion of the lights. Is there a way we can turn off these lights during low-traffic times (e.g. 1-6am) but keep them on during high-traffic times of the year (Durham Fair, Holiday weekends)
street lights
Conserve Energy + Saving $$$ = a NO BRAINER
Turn off as many lights as possible
ASAP
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