The key is to improve the lighting in Atherton but make sure PG&E passes the cost along to all customers - such as renters in EPA. It is only fair that the rich pay as little as possible. That is the American Way.

This has nothing to do with renters in EPA.

The power customer being affected here is the City of Atherton. If I change the incandescent bulbs in my house to LED to save on power, why should some renter in EPA pay less? They aren't paying my power bill, I pay for MY power.

Now if PG&E wants to lower electricity rates for all residential customers, then sure, EPA renters would see that on their bill, just like I would see it in Mountain View, and someone in Woodside.

To say that the residents of a nearby community should get a discount because some commercial customer in another municipality is using less power makes zero sense.

PG&E is performing the LED streetlight upgrade for free for all municipalities that apply. If EPA wants the upgrade, they should apply as well.

Lighting preferences are personal, but I strongly dislike the exceedingly bright white LED street lights. The presentation linked in the article above, states that 4,000K bulbs will be installed. There are other streetlight bulb options, even some from the same vendor (e.g. the CREE RSW 3,000K street lights). Because these bulbs have such a long life, once they are installed, we're stuck. So let’s get it right the first time.

I would prefer to see PG&E install a few different types of LED lights -- maybe on Atherton Ave.? -- and give residents and city officials a week or two to see them in action before the entire town is changed over. The 4,000K bulbs are probably great for lighting freeways and commercial districts, but they aren’t right for meandering residential streets. Try something with a warmer tone.

The AMA has just issued an official policy statement about these new LED lights at their annual meeting in Chicago in early June. They are recommending that communities that switch over “minimize potential harmful human health and environmental effects.” Seattle and New York had to retrofit the ones they installed, and Davis is completely replacing theirs. The discomfort and glare can actually damage the retina of the eye.

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Here's an excerpt and a link to the News Release issued by the American Medical Association:

"High-intensity LED lighting designs emit a large amount of blue light that appears white to the naked eye and create worse nighttime glare than conventional lighting. Discomfort and disability from intense, blue-rich LED lighting can decrease visual acuity and safety, resulting in concerns and creating a road hazard.

It is estimated that white LED lamps have five times greater impact on circadian sleep rhythms than conventional street lamps. Recent large surveys found that brighter residential nighttime lighting is associated with reduced sleep times, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, excessive sleepiness, impaired daytime functioning and obesity.

The detrimental effects of high-intensity LED lighting are not limited to humans. Excessive outdoor lighting disrupts many species that need a dark environment. For instance, poorly designed LED lighting disorients some bird, insect, turtle and fish species, and U.S. national parks have adopted optimal lighting designs and practices that minimize the effects of light pollution on the environment."


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Anything that improves the state of street illumination in the heart of darkness that is Atherton is welcome. Maybe they could start by having street lights on Middlefield less than 1/8 mile apart.

"Anything that improves the state of street illumination in the heart of darkness that is Atherton is welcome. Maybe they could start by having street lights on Middlefield less than 1/8 mile apart."

Why? They couldn't pretend they live somewhere in the countryside if they did.

Some people like it dark at night. I like the color of the LED lamps, but they are too bright for me.

I hope they do a better job choosing non-intrusive lights than Davis.
"Davis Will Spend $350,000 To Replace LED Lights After Neighbor Complaints"
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