Published on 12, July, 2020
Does anyine else have a strange relationship with street lights as I do?
Im all for energy saving to help with climate change but im really struggling with these new bright white (LED?) lights.
A lot of the street lights round here are being retro-fitted with the new white light. I much prefer the warm tones of the old style orange or peach ones. Is it just that i like things just-so snd unchanged? The old orange ones rrmind me of being a child. To me, the white light is like the visual equivalent of the sound of a bad chord on an untuned piano. Does that make sense to anyone? It makes me feel uncomfortabke and a bit uneasy.
Since New year, there have been 4 neighbours who have had white security lights installed outside their homes.The house at the back has lights which shine into our back bedroom. Its not majorly bright but its the colour of the light i dont like. The lights they had before shone in a bit but were a warmer light and it didnt feel invasive.
When we lived in a second floor flat, some new car park lighrs were installed which shone directly into our living room. There was only me who seemed bothered by it (not partner or other neighbours) and i got the council to re-angle the light.
These white lights make me feel uncomfortable. In places like supermarket car parks where they are really bright, the birds are singing at 10pm at night because the lighrs mimic daylight. It fills me with despair. This is messing with our body clock as well as nature.
My partner said he has never heard anyone go on about lighting as much as me. Is it just me?!
Alsowhat can we do about lighting in our home?
I've put my partner in charge of buying bulbs as it's too complicated for me. However it seems you can only buy LED ones now. I don't like putting the back bedroom big light or front room big lights on cos it's too bright. I've got used to LEDs in lamps though....I think the type of lampshade helps. Maybe get some light shades for the big lights to help diffuse it.
Halogen bulbs encased in GLS are also a favoruite along with incandescent. I buy in bulk online. I have only a few LEDs in the house - one for safety in the hall and the other broken up by a Salt Lamp (which I should say, makes for excellent evening lighting).
The PROBLEM with LEDs is they are a single wave of light, it's a bit like a pin-***. While you can get 'warmer' bulbs, they are still grating. So a pearlised thick glass encasing or a rock of salt will diffuse/scatter the light so it's tolerable. While I know they attenuate the light, I do not know for certain if blue light still escapes from a salt lamp.
I am on a personal mission to find a way to raise awareness and REPEAL these laws (phasing out more natural lighting) which are harmful to Autistic individuals.
https://www.lampco.co.uk/collections/incandescent-gls
https://www.bltdirect.com/gls-standard-light-bulbs
https://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/incandescent/
There are more locations, just do a search! (also I know this thread is 3 years old, but it's still relevant!)