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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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MadeinSurrey
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 3130 Location: The Beautiful South
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:20 am Post subject: |
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Why is it "too late"? Surely any action taken is a positive step. _________________ MiS |
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Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:50 am Post subject: |
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Not sure about that idea though. I didn't enjoy driving on a pitch dark motorway a few years ago. _________________ Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack. |
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Rachel Guest
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:08 am Post subject: |
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What a great idea but it would save the same amount energy or more to switch every other light off all the time and we'd still be able to see. |
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19384 Location: Cheshire
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:28 am Post subject: |
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Switching half of them off sounds a better idea but they are probably all on the same circuit so may not be possible.
H _________________ 88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!
I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005 |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:44 am Post subject: |
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I think you may be right, H - the motorway lights all come on at the same time.
Local councils are looking to do the same with street lighting. Suppliers and the Chinese manufacturers of domestic external and security lighting must be salivating at the prospect of everyone installing their own. The carbon footprint will become a great welly boot indentation.
Actually, when all the old street lighting (originally gas, some converted to electric but just like a little household bulb) was replaced with "sodium" in the late 1950s/60s it was so bright (in comparison) that they did switch half of them off at midnight, and I think that would be the better option. The surge in power needed to restart at 5am in the morning during the winter would surely defeat the energy/cost saving. _________________ Ron |
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Rachel Guest
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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They could just take the blubs out of every other light... |
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ColinB Guest
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Switching Motorway lights off |
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mark occomore wrote: | Saving the carbon foot print is a little too late. |
Mark, what does "saving the carbon footprint" mean, exactly?
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Rachel wrote: | They could just take the blubs out of every other light... |
Only if they're teardrop blubs
(I'll get me coat...) _________________ Ron |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe dimming street lights could save lives. I suppose on certain stretches of motorways this will not be possible due to risk of cars have head on collisions. |
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ColinB Guest
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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mark occomore wrote: | Maybe dimming street lights could save lives. I suppose on certain stretches of motorways this will not be possible due to risk of cars have head on collisions. |
If cars are having head-on collisions on motorways then some serious questions need to be asked about why certain drivers are driving in the wrong direction!!! |
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Clive55
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336
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Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 9:35 am Post subject: |
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It's another mad, bonkers scheme from a bonkers government |
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Fog on the Tyne
Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 1096
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Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:21 am Post subject: |
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When you take a look at a night time satellite photo of Europe,it's apparent that this country is probably the worst for light pollution so maybe we have too many lights on our major roadways.
I'm not in favour of a switch off but I'm sure a reduction in the amount would be possible without creating dangerous conditions. _________________ The wheel keeps on turning...
This fool made it round. |
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ColinB Guest
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Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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When flying over London at night (on approach to either Luton, Standsead or Birmingham airports for instance) it's interesting to be able to see the track of all the major motorways really easily - easpecially the M25 almost in its entirety.
There are sections of the M1 where alternate lights are switched off for several night-time hours and it doesn't affect visibility at all. Using that principle alone would effectively cut down energy consumption by 50% within those periods.
I can't see how it would lead to "head-on collisions" though! Isn't that what the central barriers are designed to prevent?
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 8:24 am Post subject: |
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ColinB wrote: | mark occomore wrote: | Maybe dimming street lights could save lives. I suppose on certain stretches of motorways this will not be possible due to risk of cars have head on collisions. |
If cars are having head-on collisions on motorways then some serious questions need to be asked about why certain drivers are driving in the wrong direction!!! |
This is why there is safety barries. Trees and bushes are sometimes left too. There are idiots who drive on our roads day and day out. I see this all the time in my job. |
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ColinB Guest
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Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 8:45 am Post subject: |
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mark occomore wrote: | This is why there is safety barries. |
My point exacfly, Mark! That's why it's highly unlikely (though not unheard of) that Motorway drivers will experience "head on collisions" just because the motorway lighting is reduced in the wee hours.
mark occomore wrote: | Trees and bushes are sometimes left too. |
Er, yes. |
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Clive55
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336
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Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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What about all the Government & Council buildings with all lights blazing all night?
What about the giant neon photos from the Debates Nic Clegg has erected of himself all over the country?
Lowering the voltage of lighting on Motorways & other roads could be a good idea, but not switching them off completely |
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Fog on the Tyne
Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 1096
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Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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Agree with you about the lit-up buildings Clive.All the fuss that's made about leaving TVs on stand-by and half of the bulidings in the country are lit-up like Christmas trees. _________________ The wheel keeps on turning...
This fool made it round. |
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