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Light the night program initiated by the City of Rio Dell.

Press release from the City of Rio Dell:

Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) and the City of Rio Dell are pleased to announce the free availability of state of the art LED lightbulbs, weatherization materials, water efficient tools, and booklets related to energy conservation. The materials are available to Rio Dell residents who bring in and dispose of older energy inefficient light bulbs to Rio Dell City Hall.

The project emerged as a Rio Dell Police Department initiative called “light the night” aimed at encouraging residents to leave their porch lights on during nighttime hours as a method of crime deterrence. City staff approached RCEA to see if the Authority could help.

“RCEA immediately recognized this as a great pilot project to combine crime deterrence and energy efficiency, creating a win-win scenario for everyone.” Stated Rio Dell Chief of Police Greg Allen. LED lighting technology takes a 100-watt light bulb and reduces the energy use to just 15 watts for the same amount of light. Nighttime outdoor and indoor lighting is also linked to reduced levels of property crime, along with appropriate locks and other security hardware. “The ability to see and be seen at all hours of the day helps reduce crime. Keeping your porch light on at night is easy to do and now we can help make it affordable to our residents, the grid and the environment.” Chief Allen concluded.

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This is ill advised. Motion activated lighting is a much more effective deterrent. Also lighting up the night is horrible for wildlife. They should at least make sure to use warm color temperature LEDs rather than cool color temperature.

This was the town that didnt want the wind machines because of the lights on top of them

1221 households in Rio Dell – 8 to10 hours a night with a single 15watt bulb for each household = You would need nearly 1200 solar panels installed just to cover that load.

I am against lighting up the night sky, but if it has to be done – wouldn’t LED streetlamps be more efficient? It would make nighttime driving safer.

No have no idea where you get your numbers from but by my calculation it would need about 45-90 solar panels in the 200-400watt range. Youre way off mark and completely out of the ballpark.

😂 between 45 to 90, 200-400 watt range. That’s a big discrepancy.

I’m no expert, but 15 watts x 10 hours a day x 1200 house holds is 180,000 watts.

Divide that by a 400 watt solar panel and you need 450.

It’s 180,000 watt-hours and average insolation for this area is about 4.5 hours of “standard sunshine” so you can divine that 180, 000 by 4.5 for the wattage needed. EXCEPT… That is annual average, winter figures used to be closer to 1.5 hours so either more panels would be needed or humongous batteries.

Light pollution at night is bad for wildlife and people alike. Multiple studies have found light pollution disturbs peoples sleep patterns and their health.

Motion actuated lights are definitely the way to go. Much lower power consumption and light only when it’s necessary.

I’ve utilized motion detector lighting for decades to save money but still light up accessed areas.

No, no, no! This is against nature and against common sense. Why does anyone think that thieves can work in total darkness? They can’t. They need light to shine on their nefarious doings. They’ll use a flashlight or phone light, like anyone. But if you give them a lit-up night, they can work undetected. Motion-detector lights or no light at all would be a much more effective crime deterrent. There’s a movement building to eliminate night lighting, in a feeble, i’ll admit, attempt to allow insects, birds, etc., not to mention humans, to regain some natural bearings in the world of light-regulated schedules. This effort to “light up the night” is regressive and obnoxious!

Maybe you should have attended a Counsel Meeting!

Maybe the word about such a meeting should have reached me. That would be a “council” meeting, it seems.

I agree with previous comments that motion sensor lights are the way to go, not a brightly lit neighborhood. Efficient bulbs, yes, but on lights that are only on as needed.

Great idea maybe Eureka could have a program like that we leave our porch light on so do several people in my neighborhood with my neighborhood be nice if we can get some more energy efficient things

Couldn’t we try to stop crime at the root of the problem? A light is a bandaid that harms wildlife. Carry on as usual Reo Del.

1) Terrible for the environment and wildlife. 2) Shifts the responsibility for crime prevention onto the citizens, rather than the city and police doing their jobs.

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