Dial4Light to turn off street lights with your phone
Imagine being able to control street lights with your mobile phone. This isn't a prank, but an eco-friendly solution now in place in parts of Germany.
The (I must add) responsible denizens there have put in place a system called Dial4Light that lets cell phone users turn on the street lamps only when someone actually needs illumination. We won't suggest this for streets like Harlem or the dodgier parts of Asia since it's so easily subject to abuse.
Much like your very own on/off switch at home, this one requires you to dial up the lights, with a 15-minute grace period before it gets pitch black again. And the best bit, a reported cost savings of 25 percent in power bills for the the towns, not to mention everyone doing their bit to reduce their carbon footprint. Just don't leave home without your phone.
Watch the video at BBC News.
(Via Crave Asia)
Having to use your cellphone to turn on a streetlight seems like a complex solution to a relatively simple problem.
If criminals could dial up a light and tell it to turn off, then indeed there would be problems. That's not the case, though. The street lights only turn off when 15 minutes have elapsed since the last time someone dialed them up to turn them on. There's probably an additional timer involved, too, set for the average length of time it takes a person to walk from one end to the other of the lit up row of lights. The 15 minute timer would only start after that.
Also, no doubt this is only for pedestrian areas, and wouldn't be implemented for roads. (Besides, cars have headlights anyway.)
- by ColinHenshaw April 1, 2009 6:09 AM PDT
- This is an excellent idea that will help reduce greenhouse emissions. Street lighting should only be used sparingly on a needs must basis, where needed, when needed, and in the correct amounts. If this suggestion could be more generally applied it will go a long way to curb the general abuse of street lighting that we see in our cities. Most crime occurs in daylight, ergo criminals need light. Contrary to the generally held belief, street lighting does not reduce crime. If anything it promotes it by encouraging people to behave more at night as they do during the day. With less lighting, crime statistics should go down, so if this idea becomes more widespread, the benefits will be enormous.
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(10 Comments)The environmental effects of street and other forms of lighting at night are now well established, so if amount of it can be reduced and normal darkness restored, then wildlife will also benefit.