An investigation shows that light pollution from Vienna’s street lighting has been reduced by 75 percent – thanks to a successful collaboration between the city and science.

  • bob_lemon@feddit.org
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    15 hours ago

    Vienna’s switch to LED street lighting directs light specifically onto streets and paths, reducing light pollution.

    The old streetlights were often quite non-directional. So you’d have illuminated bushes or walls next to the street, which is unnecessary. The new lamps simply have better directionality, creating light only where needed.

    • j5906@feddit.org
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      12 hours ago

      Let me guess they chose the most cold white light possible, that makes a xenon lamp appear warm, instead of the comfortable sodium vapour ones…

      • Melchior@feddit.org
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        12 hours ago

        No they did not, they went for a similar color for the car parts of the street and actually a warmer tone for the cycling and pedestrian parts. That btw also reduces light pollution, as the white ones are much brighter then redish tones.

        • qupada@fedia.io
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          7 hours ago

          The large dark sky reserve here in NZ uses 2000K LEDs for all street lighting.

          I can’t find an article detailing the streetlights they use. Like you’ve noted, and the bollard pictured in that article, they’re designed to spill zero light above horizontal.