 Original text & images can be found here. |
| For Immediate Release Contact: Keith Toomey Director of Communications Lighting Research Center 518.687.7100 toomek@rpi.edu |
Lighting Gas Stations Safely, EffectivelyLRC evaluates canopy lighting as part of Light Pollution researchTroy, New York, January 3, 2002 - With the nation looking for ways to reduce light pollution, scientists at the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are looking at ways to light up the night without brightening the night sky. One project focuses on gas station canopy lighting. The recent trend toward increasingly bright lighting for gas station has caused drivers, residents of surrounding areas, and local officials to complain about excessive glare, light pollution, and light trespass.The LRC is demonstrating how gas stations can provide satisfactory light levels for their customers at night while reducing glare and light trespass. Other lighting objectives in the project include attracting customers, helping customers feel safe, and making the station visible from a distance. The current solution to light pollution being proposed is the use of full cutoff luminaires. But, according to Dr. Peter Boyce, these may not provide the desired effect. “We simply do not know yet. We want to avoid making a decision without knowing the facts. We could end up with more wasted light and more wasted energy,” said Dr. Boyce, who is conducting the LRC study. "We take a holistic approach in our research,” said Dr. Michele McColgan, a researcher at the LRC. "We're looking for better ways to light the things we need to see without wasting light. We support efforts to reduce skyglow and make it possible to see the stars. We especially want to reduce light pollution while mitigating wasted energy." |
