What a Waste

[david63]

This morning I had, unusually, cause to go into our town centre. Being as it is Sunday then the majority of shops were either not opening or were opening later but they all had their lights on - not only inside but outside.

Now I can appreciate that there are potential security issues but this was in broad daylight so outside lights were definitely not needed and, in most cases, neither were the majority of inside lights.

I suspect that the excuse would be that the lights are timer controlled for "normal" operating hours but believe it or not there are now timers that can be programmed for each day and the cost of installed these would pay for itself in a few months. The other reason is probably that the staff are either too lazy to change the timer or are incompetent to do so - or is there a H&S rules that does not allow staff to do such things?

So we not only have the waste of fuel but I as a customer (if I use that shop) have to stand the cost of this wasted electricity

[Romig1]

It's the same with many office blocks - but they do seem to be improving.

[david63]

It's the same with many office blocks - but they do seem to be improving.

Bet they don't do it in Yorkshire

[Romig1]

It's the same with many office blocks - but they do seem to be improving.

Bet they don't do it in Yorkshire

Of course not...we don't even turn the lights on when the shops/offices are open!

Now't wrong with candle-light!

[royalprincess]

Go past the Halls of Government/royal palaces - lights blazing everywhere. I appreciate this might be a security issue but in today's climate it is wasteful. Did the government switch suppliers as they advised us to? I wonder?

[gfwgfw]

I had a short stay in a local hospital, it was uncomfortably hot even with the widows open

[Delboy]

They are switching the street lights off in our area,

Street lights to be switched off across Tendring next week
5:00pm Saturday 18th January 2014


TENDRING will be plunged into darkness next weekend as street lights are switched off.

The controversial plan will see most street lamps turned off between midnight and 5am in a bid to save energy and cash.

The big switch-off was due to take place on New Year’s Day, but was postponed after Tendring Council asked for more time for consultation.

Campaigners claim the move will make the district’s streets more dangerous, but County Hall bosses argued that pilot schemes in Maldon and Uttlesford had been successful, with no negative impact on crime figures.

They say the countrwide scheme will save £14million.

Tendring Neighbourhood Watch chairman Mike Vaughan-Chatfield said: “The lights are there for safety and I believe that should be maintained.

“Using LED lighting would be cheaper to install and run so short-term and long-term it would appear to be the best option.

“Southend Council has now changed to LED lighting. It will save money, cover the costs and come out with a profit."

Blueprints show lights will not be switched off in town centres, key road junctions and accident blackspots.

Streetlights have already been switched off in Colchester, Braintree and Chelmsford.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “Essex County Council has looked into the possibility of using LED lighting, however this would not be economically viable for a county of our size at present."

Clacton lights will go out at midnight on January 26.

[Stephen]

It's the same with many office blocks - but they do seem to be improving.

Bet they don't do it in Yorkshire

Of course not...we don't even turn the lights on when the shops/offices are open!

Now't wrong with candle-light!

That's just being frivolous Romig

[Frank Manning]

You do see a lot of lights left on in buildings after the end of work for the day, and some of it is thoughtlessness. However I dont like the street lights being turned off at night. We have had the street lighting off from 0000 to 0600 in our road for several months. It is part of a one year trial. In that time our road has had two burglaries, three car break ins, and drain covers stolen. I hasten to add that this is a reasonable residential area, but almost as soon as the trial started, so did the trouble. We will be asking for them to be put back on when the trial is over.

We have three main security lights and two smaller ones, they come on when people are detected, and go off after about a minute. In addition we set the alarm every night, and we have lockable inner porch doors on both the front and rear entrances which are locked every night. The car goes into a locked garage.

[royalprincess]

My local council installed LED lighting - one right outside my bedroom. It gives off sufficent light that if I get up during the night I dont need to put the light to walk around the bedroom without falling over and use the loo. Thus saving my electricity. It is potty to turn off street lighting - its a safety issue.