Illuminating x-mas lighting

At the moment Sydney is falling into the pre x-mas electric lighting hysteria. Individual households are illuminating the outside of their properties in a competitive arms race blowing (wattage) energy 24/7. Public organisations join the frenzy, despite their commitment to 'green obligations'. A drop-dead (bird) lighting of trees heats up the event-hype.The occasion is apparently for 'the little ones' to demonstrate to them how to go about energy efficiency and sustainable (New) Years. All effects on the climate (and their future) are forgotten in the glowing frenzy of Las Vegas flickr. If the subs have to be electrically illuminated, then at least it could glow efficiently using LED. But for a true 'silent night' the dark sky with its mega-show could be an efficient attention-zapper that is sustainable.

Links:
A 'must-have' killer x-mas light display
Extreme lighting video and pictures
On LED xmas lights
Update: 06.12.05 X-mas DIY with LEDs
19.12.05 Ugly christmas lights collection

Reducing Light Pollution

In various cities of the world unnescessary lights are switched off now. New York, Toronto, Chicago, Zürich and many more cities have decided to not waste energy and disrupt the ecosystem. Light pollution does not only obscure the night sky, but it creates health problems for humans and disrupts the life of a lot of other animals, especially birds. As a result many cities turn off their lights during bird migration, but plan to leave them off for the entire year. Skybeamers are prohibited in Switzerland so far.

In Manly businesses are arming themselves with glaring lights, making any vision for pedestrians and beach-goers impossible. Sporting venues billow dollars into the night sky. Council regulators seem to have no 'light awareness'. On the sub-urban front, domestic lighting beams up into the sky from underneath. Unsecured beams at the front and rear of houses simulate bright daylight. Also handy in case of a bit of night mowing and considerate as it saves the neighbours lighting while reading.

At event-hypes the public laserbeamer aims for Mars and the trees light up with bulbs permanently, so that no bird shall rest in them ever again. Meanwhile in the subs x-mas lighting orgies are displayed to small humans. Kilometers of light bulbs reading: "What energy crisis?".

As there is always that 5 year time-lag in Australia, one might hope the CBD could join in the dark sky movement and reduce the 'sky glow', then maybe councils and residents might also 'see the light' and turn them off. For the sake of

• their own health
• their energy bills
• their birds and other animals
• their beautiful southern sky
• their delicate ecosystem