Street lights and other lighting

Tints won't work - LEDs light output is only a very narrow frequency so a tint will only darken the light, there's no other frequencies to filter out.

I was thinking last night about tinted glasses. I suppose it'll be a few years yet before they're all done. Our council like many others have had to make massive cuts.  Maybe they might change their minds although in thr long run LEDs are cheaper.  

There are white lights on my street - one right outside our house. There are ones from the security lights of the houses nearby. It feels like it's coming light outside when they shine in.  Natural light on the blue spectrum is strongest in the morning so it feels like it's time for getting up! We have blackout curtains in some rooms but I like natural light in the morning to wake me up. Well I suppose you can't have everything!

So I've got used to it just about at the front of the house. But if it's going to be across the borough it'll be awful! 

The neighbours next door are on about getting permanent security lights, I've made my opinions known! (I think I have but I might not have come across strong enough).

I was in Scotland last week. It felt like the edge of the world. I couldn't sleep so I went outside. So many stars! The milky way!! BLISS.

Just the opposite myself. It's basically my job to do all the energy-saving projects around here. I am gradually getting rid of all the fluorescents; which suits me because I don't like the ballast buzz or the strobe effect. (Or shocks off ballasts!;-) With LEDs, I have tried Warm White and didn't like it. As someone elsewhere said, it's a very reminiscent tint, and I really don't need any more reminiscence, as I'm a past master at it. I also think Warm White reminds me of the seasonal 'downer' often experienced during autumns and winters in cold climates. Or even heavily overcast days in a tropical rainy season. In both cases, days subject to cabin fever.

Yep, daylight white can be too strong, but you can avoid looking anywhere near ceiling mounted light fittings, and can also fit diffusers. Or direct the light carefully, as with wall-mounted spotlights.

I made myself a handheld extension lead spotlight, with a very cheap 12V LED cluster bought in the local equivalent of Maplin. It already had a diffuser lens of sorts I realised I really needed a better diffuser, because everyone found the Daylight White too strong if it was not directed carefully. But there were no off-the-shelf diffusers available in the right size. The answer was to make one out of an opaque Boots hand-cream pot complete with the lid. (Wipe it completely clean, of course!) The degree of diffusion was then just right. A hole was cut through the lid, and the lid was fitted to the barrel of the 'torch', with the opaque pot fitted over the cluster. The pot could thus be removed when a stronger light was needed for such things as 'hunt the contact lens'. (The barrel was constructed from a sealant tube, with a reused flex poked in through the screw-on nozzle. The connection to the 12V solar battery system used a jack-plug such as was used on old telephone exchanges and some hi-fi connections. But actually jack plugs and 12V car adapters are quite commonly used in solar systems, because they are simple, cheap and reliable. An illuminated car switch was the final homespun touch) So it is possible to make your own diffusers, from any material with some degree of opacity. But keep the diffuser some distance from LED tubes, to avoid overheating of the tube that might burn out the mini-driver. All you really need to test the level of diffusion is your own eyes and mind; is it comfortable for them or not?

Your point about interfering with the body clock and nature is an important one; but the light can also be more directed than fluorescents. That means less light pollution ABOVE the fitting. The LED lights fitted recently on my street seem much better directed than previous, and don't appear to have much impact on the starlings and other critters in roadside trees. So perhaps that effect can be eliminated by newer designs. I had sort of noticed the starling *** tends to mainly accumulate under trees on the divider, where the light definitely doesn't shine much. You hear the twitter, and avoid walking under them, but can't actually see them. ;-) But actually my main contribution to the energy-saving and visual discomfort issues is to switch everything off when it is no longer needed/desired/comfortable. I like to sleep in complete darkness and loathe aircons. Even the white noise of a fan is unwelcome for too long. So I also have a 12V pedestal fan with a timer switch.

Another plus point of LED tubes is the LEDs are NOT in a vacuum with Mercury inside the tube.

I HATE the new white lights! The glare from them is like staring into the sun. 

Would wearing tinted glasses help with the glare from the street lights?

I absolutely can't deal with having the big light on - lamps all the way!

Yes - the buzzing of flourescent lights irritates me so much - and yet no else hears it! I also can't stand artificial light of any type really. Car headlights are awful. Bright sunlight (well even on overcast days) give me headaches and make my eyes water. I wear sunglasses all the time outside now and it's much nicer. But there's not much you can do at night with artificial light. 

I hate fluorescent lighting - definitely prefer warmer coloured lights. Maybe you could try getting in touch with the Bat Conservation Trust - they make a case about how bright streetlights disrupt bats (a protected species): https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/threats-to-bats/lighting 

I've just read in the local paper that the council are changing ALL the street lights in the borough to the LED ones. They make me feel really uncomfortable.  

I can cope with some of these white lights because I have to, I just wish they weren't all going to be changed.

out_of_step said:

The big light seemed to get brighter and brighter. Like too much input. Of light and sounds. I dont know if thats just a tirednesd thing but ive notice it happen again sincr. When i hsve to concentrate socislly.

In my experience, sensory overload can snowball. When one thing starts, it will make other things heighten, which by the end of a long period where you are more stimulated, or can't control the stimulus around you, ends up feeling like you have a brain full of electric eels.

As for being tired, that always makes my senses more sensitive. I was an insomniac, so I've teetered on the edge of reality at times. Moving patterns on clothes, wallpapers, and things like skin. Prolonged periods of anything stressful or intensive make it bad, a lack of sleep makes it far more "trippy" and basically unbearable.

I think that not enough is made of the sensory stuff, especially for late diagnosees. The kids get quite well schooled on it, that's a good thing, but I think adults need to be taught more. I thought I was going insane before my diagnosis, but after diagnosis, and after talking to the right support worker, I realised how autism worked like that. I now have strategies I'm working into my life.

Thank you for replies so far.

Ive learned far more about bulbs than i ever knew.

I think some people have more problems than me. Im still not sure if i have AS but this is one of the sensory aspects ive considered.

I also notice that i sometimes struggle wuth the big light on at home. Ive always preferred lamps and put this down to a "female thing" as my partner just comes in and puts the big light on. No lamps. But i noticed at christmas while at relatives. About 15 ppl there and lots of socialising so i had to think. After a couple of hours i felt i was running out of steam. The big light seemed to get brighter and brighter. Like too much input. Of light and sounds. I dont know if thats just a tirednesd thing but ive notice it happen again sincr. When i hsve to concentrate socislly.

What really annoys me are lights that flicker and or buzz.  And car headlights.

I am quite sensitive to light. Bright, harsh lights really bug me and make me feel a little weird after a while, kind of fuzzy headed and disoriented.

For example, the last couple of days I have been doing a first aid course in a very brightly lit room (flourecent lights) and have pretty much had a constant headache from it.

We've got blackout blinds so the GF can pretend I'm Brad Pitt at night.

We've got blackout blinds because of external light in the night.

I can't live with flourescent lights - a can see them flickering and it's really uncomfortable - I can feel an internal stress building like having an internal itch that I can't scratch that just builds until I have to escape before I overload. Hate them.

LEDs are difficult because they produce a very narrow frequency of light energy that is very tiring because it depletes the receptors in the eye.

Disambiguating Cynosure said:

Fluorescent

DC the word just makes me shiver. Peter Cooper Hewitt is a historical figure I'd really like to go into a time machine and meet. I'd do my best to stop their invention........

I have massive problems with lights. You aren't the only one! I had a big LED street lamp put in front of my house a year ago. I now sleep in the back bedroom. It puts too much light into the room. I now sleep in my back bedroom, blinds and curtains closed.

I try to avoid daylight as much as I can. I usually go to sleep at dawn to avoid as much of the light as I can. That's why I post so late. Summers can be uncomfortable to say the least.

The absolute worst light is flourescent light. It causes me sensory overload pretty quickly. I'd explain the feeling as painful, it also gives me a weird feeling of dread, also a "seasick" feeling, so I get your description of the LED lights. They don't mess me up, but flourescent lights ruin me. Each quick flicker is registered, and strobes, then my vision overlays each flicker. 

From my interactions with people on the spectrum, it isn't rare for light to be an issue.

...Ok. But it is getting late, just to let you know, I am signing off this, now. I could try to end in saying something silly, what with the topic going onto 'lightbulb changing' and all... but I do not know enough jokes about it! Ciao.

Apologies - I meant to reply to myself - I get the fluorescent problem then as an afterthought mentioned my issues with LED - but replied to the wrong post :)

(...I just tried to find a good single picture of an ES Bulb and an LED Bulb, but there are too many. Just type ES +Bulb or LED +Bulb into a Web Browser and select Images, and then there should be a good show of different types of each.)