Could we remove most streetlights and use that energy for plug-in hybrid vehicles?

Question

I have heard that many streetlights are in place to balance out the load on power plants by using nighttime capacity. And that streetlights and other outdoor lights actually can result in sleeping problems.

How many street/security and other outdoor lights could we remove in communities large and small across America? It would take education and responding to any concerns over safety issues. The energy we would save, the better rest we would have. The crime we would prevent.

We have so much poorly planned lighting. Could we incorporate outdoor lighting into the building code as we see at www.darksky.org?

Answer 1

You make an excellent (two) point(s).

First, lights are needed to keep crime down and avoid car collisions but, some cities are replacing all lights with LED (light emitting diodes, whatever that is) that illuminate, some, of your car instruments. They use a lot less energy to provide the same amount of light. Cities could save tons of money and some are doing that, others have not heard of this, maybe now they will.

The other idea, public access to free electricity to power their plug-in electric cars is excellent. Some cities, like San Francisco, are considering making bus transportation free, that will be far more expensive.

The parking lots in shopping centers could provide free, time-limited plugs to attract plug-in electric cars. Movie theaters could do the same, etc. Great!

Answer 2

there is little relation between the two, other than they both use electricity.

at the same time -- sort of.

you might keep in mind that  darksky.org  has a political agenda.

as such, the "facts" that they post are not necessarily reliable.

<<We have so much poorly planned lighting.>>  where did you learn this?  it seems pretty well planned to me.  light poles are often found on corners, where the light is useful for both streets.  lights are closer where there are more people, or where there are businesses that would be more subject to crime if there were less lighting.

btw, if you include the http://  then yahoo will recognize the link.

Answer 3

It's city greed just like their water enslavement.  Sewage can be kept in tanks without the need for water, yet the city will never give up its power over us.  Not until money is renderred useless.  That day, thank God, is getting closer and closer.  Those people who truly care about the future of humans and the living planet are not the people in Washington D. C. or in other capitols of the world.  Pollution is the United States lost opportunity for true power in the world--oil is death, death is oil.  And the politicians will spill our blood for themselves and for their secret moonbases with gentics laboratories in order that they may have the perfecet slaves (in every sense of the word) and live to be 200 years old.  For their souls truly suffer even now as they keep the vast majority of citizens in the dark concerning the destruction of our planet.  At least Mr Gore has tried to wake up humanity, even though his hands are tied as to what truths he can tell  us.  For the corporate war mongers in Washington keep his hands tied in order that they continue their pythonic grasp on control and power over the masses, least their government (mafia) be renderred uselless.  So- Dollar -  DIE.