›› Ruben Anderson
Old streetlights are being replaced around the CRD with Victoria’s final phase being the downtown core, to be finished in early 2018. Contractors recently rolled through Fernwood replacing the old orange lights with warm white LEDs that use about half the electricity.
Across the whole city this really adds up. Streetlights use about a third of our municipal electricity—that’s about 500 households worth of power.
LED lights are very directional, which reduces light pollution. In order to reduce light pollution and energy use as much as possible, the City of Victoria hired a lighting designer to calculate different bulb wattages based on the type of street, the width of the road, and even the height of the light poles.
Light pollution is a big problem because it disrupts bird migration, disgruntles stargazers and deprives us of restful and restorative sleep.
Sleep deprivation is especially serious for children and teenagers. It can reduce learning and exacerbate mental health issues and anxiety. For adults, the lack of sleep can impair judgment and reactions as much as being legally drunk—and some of the new lights are shining too brightly into windows and yards.
Fortunately, if your home is in the spotlight, Victoria Public Works can install a shield on the lamp to keep the light on the road where it belongs. Call Public Works at 250-361-0400 or email pw@victoria.ca with your address, the location of the lamp, and a description of the issue.
A fact sheet about this project, including a link to the report to City Council, is available on the City website at goo.gl/DKaGrm.
