Brighten up your block at night

Posted By martin, 06/11/09 5:09 PM

At tonight's PSA 308 meeting, Lt Pate, Commissioner Padro, and Sgt Greene led a discussion about possibly increasing the wattage of some of the "Cobra Head" street lights to help diminish some of the dark areas in the neighborhood. The goal is to help folks feel a little safer by making their walks home from work and around the community at night a little brighter.

On Friday, June 19, after it starts getting dark and the street lights come on, Lt Pate will begin a walking tour through the neighborhood to identify areas that need brighter lights. He'll meet anyone interested in doing the walk at the 7-Eleven on 7th & Rhode Island Ave (1622 7th St NW).

If you can't make the walk, but can identify spots on your own walk home or on your block where lights should be made brighter, just note the location here and Lt Pate will include that on his list to submit to DDOT. The wattage of the "cobra" street lights is apparently noted on the botton face of the fixture near the lamp holder. Many of them now indicate "25" watts. This can apparently be increased to at least 65 watts.

Some streets lights might have a negative impact on residents if located near the facades of some homes, so in some cases it might be worthwhile to ask home owners you meet if they want the light in front of their home brightened. I asked one home owner this evening and she said she definitely wanted the light near her house brighter; so, in some cases it wont be a problem.

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Comments

Push for LED lights like in Ann Arbor, MI. Better quality light, better directed light, no uplighting, no light pollution, very green, energy efficient.

Cobra heads are following in the footsteps of the dodos

Posted By crin / At 6/13/09 4:36 AM

I second the idea that light should be directed downward. The cobra lights (if they're the large bulb lights I see on M St.) tend to push too much light 'out' rather than 'down'. I wouldn't like to have to draw my front room shades to keep from staring at a large illuminated orb each night. The idea of increasing wattage might turn off some homeowners. However, I'm all for a better quality light that's shining down at the street.

Posted By mike l / At 6/14/09 1:01 PM

Google "cobra head street light" to see a picture of what we were discussing changing. Google "acorn street light" for the ones on M St I think you're referring to.

DDOT sent a correction: The cobra lights labeled "25"=250 watts; 400 watts is the maximum light DDOT will install. 400's are used on highways. There's one 400 on southeast corner of 10th & French St. It makes the street brighter below the light, but it doesn't look like it affects neighbors much more than the 250's. I surveyed "a few" of the neighbors on the 400 block of P St NW who are all for giving it a try.

This is up to neighbors most affected by it. They will have to opt in; it's not automatic.

Posted By martin / At 6/14/09 3:16 PM