On a project that I
contributed to about a year ago, I marveled how a technology could profoundly change our
way of life here in the Western Pacific.
Prior to that project's completion and while visiting another part of
the Marianas Archipelago, I saw firsthand how the use of Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights had
already been in full swing and just how great a quality of light these devices
put out on a highway.
The road was lit. Nothing more.
The direction of the lenses from the modern street light technology illuminated much more of the roads than
their high pressure sodium (HPS) predecessors.
The HPS streetlight, while a great workhorse for its time, was
effectively put aside for a technology that saves nearly 50 percent in energy
costs and is as effective of lighting up a road on any given night.
But the biggest observation I made to project
engineers early on was "WOW! The road is lit and not the nearby jungle,
home or Micronesian landmark.!"
Even more important was that the night sky was not cut by the new LED
streetlight and the surrounding island landscape has since yielded a different look at night.
Taking it one step further, a recent BBC report talks of a newer LED technology that could reduce light pollution even
further. As a star gazer, this is
welcome news. The report cites an
Optical Society of America study that explores the use of a cluster of LED's
and a micro lens sheet for a better LED street light experience. The study noted
that the use of a total internal reflection lens sheet uniformly distributes
light only onto the street as opposed to all directions from the common HPS streetlight. It is this fact that contributes to glare,
non-uniform lighting patterns, upward reflected light, waste of energy and
light pollution. The study notes that
LED light can be shaped and projected onto the street by different optical
methods and the use of this micro lens sheet performs better and
importantly lights up the road and nothing else.
While in the design stage, it is still good news for consumers and the
driving public alike. Many have proffered
that the LED Streetlight is of poor quality.
Many were speaking about the light as they and their "driving
eyes" have grown so akin to the HPS glow that nothing can match it. This is spurring a culture change across the
region, though it is slow to catch on here.
Who wouldn't want to see more of the night sky in our region, if the
lights were not making it harder to enjoy it?
Did I mention the energy savings?
This new technology will utilize 10 and 50 percent less power to
illuminate our roadways. And YES-light
pollution would be reduced as would the disruption caused on our native wildlife and
people's sleep. There is no question
that time and more study is required on using such technology in our part of the world. Our neighbors across the Pacific are taking
the plunge so much quicker than "the big city in Micronesia". Though I am certain we are headed in that
direction-we just need to get decision makers behind it and behind the use of
LED street lights quickly. Not star stuck here-just want to see more of the stars that glow brightly in this latitude.
To discuss more about LED street lights or other LED lighting solultions, give GET, LLC a call at 671-483-0789 or drop us a message via our website at www.get-guam.com.