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Ask Slashdot: Setting Up Non-Obnoxious Outdoor Lighting?
An anonymous reader writes "My neighbor recently complained about my outdoor floodlight shining in her window. While trying to address this problem, I read an essay about the tragedy of light pollution, and started to think that this is a much broader issue. With all the new lighting technologies out there, this may be the right time to rethink lighting — both indoor and outdoor; public and private. I solved my problem by replacing the floodlight with a spotlight, but I also considered installing a colored light. What are some strategies for illuminating what we need to without casting excess light everywhere and inadvertently blinding our neighbors or keeping them awake?"
The http://www.darksky.org/ has several resources. Better yet, become a member.
You're obviously not an astronomer. See this photo for a good example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Light_pollution_country_versus_city.png (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pollution)
I am the OP: Short answer, my landlord installed the floodlight and the motion detector that runs in. I think she was partly concerned with security, which I don't really think is an issue. Longer answer, my wife has MS which gives her both vision problems and balance problems. She also walks with a cane which would make it hard to carry a torch. I think that a lot of older people have similar issues.
As a long time stargazer I can sympathize with your neighbor and its pretty much the reason I moved out to the country. Floodlights are the worst, they illuminate every which way. Good lighting uses something to shield the light from going up and sideways and focuses the beam down toward the ground. We installed pot lights outside and use colored lights in them that are softer but are still plenty bright enough to see if you go outside. Also, there is no substitute for simply turning them off when you are in the house, although that is easy for me to say where I live. In the city some see them as a deterrent to people sneaking around their yard. You could always put your lights on a motion sensor as well I guess. You can google for outdoor residential lighting that minimizes light pollution. Check out a few astronomy forums, there are plenty of militant anti-light folks there that could advise you as well.
if (FireFury03 == 'Brit'){
torch = 'flashlight';
};
Ever tried a head- or shoulder-lamp? They're made to solve *exactly* this problem and are extremely effective.
>My floodlights are on motion sensor, however. It helps cut down on the obnoxiousness.
Only if well configured. I can't tell you how many floodlights I've seen that get triggered by somebody walking past outside the yard, or by neighborhood animals passing through, or even wind blowing through a bush. The only thing more annoying than a floodlight constantly shining in my window is a having it turning on and off all night long.
--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
Try one of these, they are great for this kind of stuff.
http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-Industrial-Headlight-Batteries-Included/dp/B00352O79U
I may look a tool wearing one, but since discovering it, i'll never turn back to handheld torches for poking around the garden.
My own solution would be to take the flood lights out, and replace them with a screw-in outlet (the kind that people use to run their Christmas lights off the porch light fixture). Run an extension cord from there to your sidewalk or wherever you actually need the light, and plug rope lights or yard lights into it.
I loathe flood lights, especially motion-activated ones. I walk the dogs at night and hate being blinded by 150 watts of light suddenly blasting into my eyes. They actually reduce security in most cases, since no one is going to even look the general direction of that much light, the shadows they create are essentially impenetrable, and people will automatically assume that the person standing in front of the door actually belongs there.
"Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
My floodlights are on motion sensor, however. It helps cut down on the obnoxiousness.
Floodlights that go on for 10 minutes in the evening and then go off are minorly irritating.
Floodlights on a motion sensor that go on every time a cat walks by, the wind blows a tree branch a bit too much, a car drives by or a person walks by are VERY annoying. Not so bad if they're YOUR floodlights, but I ended up installing blackout curtains because my neighbours' motion sensitive floodlights kept lighting up the bedrooms in my house randomly for 1-minute periods. Nothing's worse than repeated unexpected lighting changes.
At least make sure your light is calibrated so it's not going off when it shouldn't, and that your light is positioned so it only floods the area the motion sensor senses.