Streetlights

[Hollie]

Has anybody else had the new streetlights installed in your neighborhood? These things are terrible. The light pollution is extraordinary. It's like daylight in my neighborhood in the middle of the night. My entire house is lit up all night long. I can't block out the light. I'm going to have to replace all the window treatments in my house to try to be able to sleep. Literally, my bedroom is as bright as day. I could read a book. Why in the world would they add to the already terrible light pollution problem in Jacksonville?

[ProjectMaximus]

Where do you live?

[Hollie]

East of San Marco, a few blocks from Assumption Catholic Church.

[Adam White]

Has anybody else had the new streetlights installed in your neighborhood? These things are terrible. The light pollution is extraordinary. It's like daylight in my neighborhood in the middle of the night. My entire house is lit up all night long. I can't block out the light. I'm going to have to replace all the window treatments in my house to try to be able to sleep. Literally, my bedroom is as bright as day. I could read a book. Why in the world would they add to the already terrible light pollution problem in Jacksonville?

I doubt it is literally as bright as day in your bedroom. Unless by "day" you include twilight.

[acme54321]

I live right next to assumption and have one of these lights right in front of my house.  They are bright but don't seem much brighter in the house than the old ones were in my bedroom with the blinds closed. 

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

They're doing exactly what streetlights are supposed to do, and at a fraction of the cost.  They seem to all be LEDs.  And yes, they're much brighter and use less energy.  Win.  Win.

[Hollie]

Light pollution is not a win.

[Hollie]

I live right next to assumption and have one of these lights right in front of my house.  They are bright but don't seem much brighter in the house than the old ones were in my bedroom with the blinds closed.

I have 5 of these lights in front of my house because two (extremely low traffic side) streets merge. So multiply your experience by five.

[Adam White]

Light pollution is not a win.

"Light pollution" is a loaded term. And what one person may deem to be "pollution" another person may consider reasonable - or even preferable - light levels. And to that end, light pollution is oftentimes (though not always) a side effect of necessary lighting.

So, yeah, light pollution is not a win. But neither are dark streets. Or streets lit by inefficient lights that lead to other, more pernicious, forms of pollution.

Perhaps they need to do an assessment of the lighting in your area and see if the requirements are being exceeded. Or perhaps you should just buy blackout curtains and htfu.

[camarocane]

I welcome these LEDs, I personally think they look much better than the old yellow lights. I have two in my front yard and they provide a certain level of security which I have not had with the dim yellow streetlight. and kudos to the COJ or JEA or whoever made the decision, more efficient lighting will save money in both cost to operate and cost to maintain.

[Captain Zissou]

I live in St Nicholas by Mudville and I love the new lights.  The old lights were always dying and that yellow orange color was awful.  The clean, white, bright light that is there now is far superior.

[Jagsdrew]

Agreed with Camarocane. I would sacrifice the light shining twice as bright (and shining through into my house) in exchange to feel more safe and comfortable going outside of my home in the evening to take out the trash or get something out of my car.

Does anyone know if the FDOT will be doing installing LEDs with their street lights and their big tower lights at major interchanges and junctions? Think it would be appropriate if this is the direction that major cities are going with on their surface roads and neighborhoods.

[Lunican]

I have heard that COJ can install hoods on lights that shine directly into houses. I've not actually seen them do this but it might be something to investigate.