Yet Another Benefit Of Energy Effecient Lighting
Yet Another Benefit Of Energy Effecient Lighting
Posted by: Lady Logician
on Dec 15, 2009 
If it was not so serious (and costly) it would be funny.
Cities around the country that have installed energy-efficient traffic lights are discovering a hazardous downside: The bulbs don't burn hot enough to melt snow and can become crusted over in a storm — a problem blamed for dozens of accidents and at least one death.
"I've never had to put up with this in the past," said Duane Kassens, a driver from West Bend who got into a fender-bender recently because he couldn't see the lights. "The police officer told me the new lights weren't melting the snow. How is that safe?"
This is why this story is not funny.
Illinois authorities said that during a storm in April, 34-year-old Lisa Richter could see she had a green light and began making a left turn. A driver coming from the opposite direction did not realize the stoplight was obscured by snow and plowed into Richter's vehicle, killing her.
"Would the accident have occurred if the lights had been clear? I would be willing to bet not," Oswego police Detective Rob Sherwood said.
And this is why this is so costly...
Many communities have switched to LED bulbs in their traffic lights because they use 90 percent less energy than the old incandescent variety, last far longer and save money. Their great advantage is also their drawback: They do not waste energy by producing heat.
Authorities in several states are testing possible solutions, including installing weather shields, adding heating elements like those used in airport runway lights, or coating the lights with water-repellent substances.
Short of some kind of technological fix, "as far as I'm aware, all that can be done is to have crews clean off the snow by hand," said Green Bay, Wis., police Lt. Jim Runge. "It's a bit labor-intensive."
In St. Paul, Minn., for example, city crews use air compressors to blow snow and ice off blocked lights.
So we install LED lights because they "save" money and we end up spending that money to clean them off after storms. Of course the one thing that wasn't discussed is the eventual lawsuit against the town because they should have done more to make sure the lights were not obstructed. Right?
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written by Barthélemy Barbancourt , December 16, 2009
The medical device industry is heavily regulated, so we would have been required to not only account for this in a risk analysis but also test for it in real world situations before ever putting a new device like this into use.
This is a great example of not only the many problems with the environmental movement but also government. If private industry had installed devices that don't work in the winter and someone died, they would be sued. Government employees are allowed to make a never ending stream of bad decission with little to no reprocussions.
written by Kermit , December 16, 2009
We end up spending that money to clean them off after storms
More "green" jobs! It's a win-win!
written by Barthélemy Barbancourt , December 16, 2009
Paying more for light bulbs that don't work as well and then paying people to clean them off. You have the core of Keynesian economics right there. It results in a larger and more wasteful public sector and a poorer private sector. Eventually the Public scetor gets so large the the private sector can no longer afford it and society collapses. We have seen this in other countries, but most of them were honest and named their policies after their real ideological roots.
written by Elmer , December 16, 2009
Don't exaggerate this kind of thing, it's not a failure of government yet. Remember that we won WWII with army supply mechanisms that were FUBAR in the parlance of the times.
The technical fix will be easy, and will add some cost to the already-pricey LED assemblies, but the things last a long time and are very efficient and bright. For example, there's technology on expensive cars that senses rainfall and activates windshield wipers. Use the same thing to activate small heating coils that run until the precipitation stops. Just keep government from using racial quotas for inventors and that kind of thing.
written by A Non Y Mouse , December 16, 2009
My beef is with the low flow toilets and the Pressure Reducing Valves That are in all the new sink/shower faucets.
The pressure reducing/conservation valves have choaked my water pressure to shit. I guess I should have bought that extra "Low-flow aerator option" available.
My goose neck sink faucets with sprayer -( you know the purpose of the sprayer is to shoot food particles off your pans) rendered it useless. It took 5 mn to fill a gallon bucket! Our multi option (pulsating/ massaging/ rainshower )SHOWER HEAD was reduced to a one option weak spray.
So to Hell with it...we just took all the valves out this weekend.
When I want to "conserve" I'll set the showerhead to rainshower setting. If a small fire breaks out...at least I'll be able to fill a bucket in seconds vrs 5 minutes.
Anybody else find these new conservation faucets to diminish functionability?
written by Kermit , December 16, 2009
Eventually the Public scetor gets so large the the private sector can no longer afford it and society collapses
And that is the heart of the Cloward/Piven strategy for turning America into a communist state. Make every single person dependent on the government.
written by notpcenuff4u , December 16, 2009
The leds have an incredible lifespan and they already have heated cameras on the roads so why not lights? It's not just the energy saved although that is quite substantial but it is the man hrs needed to maintain. It makes sense even if the heaters eat up all the energy saved.
Hell, the first plane didn't fly very well and I wonder how many chinamen got their fingers blowed off coming up with gun powder?
Yes, this was a screwup but it's fixable.
written by Lady Logician , December 16, 2009
But how many others will die before this mess up gets fixed. My problem with this is that it was yet one more case of liberal unintended consequences!
LL
written by notpcenuff4u , December 16, 2009
It still makes sense to do though.
The road to hell is truly paved with good intentions and this kind of snafu is nothing new in man's quest for new shit.
We've seen it in designs and ideas of all kinds.
I'm sorry people have been hurt and died but the idea is still good. It needs to be fixed is all. LED technology is good stuff and makes sense.
written by Sequel , December 16, 2009
LED's are wonderful and I love the damn things: However-
What do we have here?
LED's, heating coils, moisture and temp sensors, all to fix a problem that does not exist.
Wait!
I have an idea for a light source and heating coil all for about 75 cents:
150 watt light bulb.
written by notpcenuff4u , December 17, 2009
Yeah with a 2-3k hr life span versus a 20-30k hr lifespan.
I replaced my Christmas lights with LEDs. What used to cost about a buck and a half a night to run now costs about 5 cents.
written by Barthélemy Barbancourt , December 17, 2009
Remember these things are killing people.
Replace LED's with a new medical device and see if you still like the arguments you are making. "The new widgets are great things so lets keep using defective ones until we get the bugs worked out. The deaths of a few thousand people is a small price to pay for using new stuff"
No, you would demand a recall and tell the manufacturer to fix the product before using it.
As Sequel pointed out, we have a solution that works, we should stick to that until LED's have been properly tested and found to work in all situations.
If your kid dies becuase some MNDOT moron installs an LED that doesn't work in the winter, will you still be so forgiving? I highly doubt it.
written by notpcenuff4u , December 17, 2009
Lots of things are killing people.
Muslims and drunk drivers for instance.
The med profession kills thousands every year by mistake.
Did I say keep using them without fixing the freezeup problem? No I didn't. I mereely said they are a good idea that wasn't thought out all the way like many ideas of the past that are now everyday items.
