Dear editor,
Earth Hour was devised to bring attention to energy conservation.
This in fact does make the public aware of energy waste but only lasts for one hour out of the year. If B.C. Hydro, provincial governments, and municipalities were really serious about conserving energy, I have some suggestions.
I'm an amateur astronomer involved in serious research from my backyard observatory in Courtenay and I need dark skies to continue with my studies.
I do meteor spectroscopy using special film cameras and light pollution limits exposure lengths before sky fog becomes a problem. Large-format films are expensive, so dark skies would help.
I also operate a Sandia All-Sky video system 24 hours per day) for recording bright meteor fireballs. Light pollution limits the sensitivity of the ccd electronic video cameras used for this purpose.
This system is part of the B.C. Meteor Network and also an International effort being set up across North America (see www.bcmeteors.net).
This network of All-Sky cameras is used to triangulate bright fireballs that could possibly result in a meteorite find. It's very important to recover a meteorite as soon as possible after a fall before it is contaminated by our Earth environment.
In B.C. we have not accomplished this yet but a group in Alberta/Saskatchewan has. A very important contribution to science.
Now for my energy conservation suggestions:
Replace all cobra head streetlights with much more efficient sharp cutoff fixtures. Cobra head streetlights scatter much of the light they produce skyward, a real waste of energy.
Sharp cutoff lighting fixtures direct light down where it is needed and would save approximately 20 to 30 per cent in energy used to power them. Yes, they cost money to install, but building a new power plant costs very much more!
Better yet would be to remove some unnecessary light standards. Is a cobra head light standard really necessary along our streets at every three houses?
Many say that such lighting is required for security reasons. If this were true the entertainment districts in our larger cities would be the safest places in the world and we know that this is not true!
I would also like the co-operation of the public, by turning off unnecessary, (when not being used), external home lighting like sundeck lights. They really don't need to be on all night and turning them off will save you money in a long run. If you must have them on, at least shield them so they don't scatter light all over the place. Another problem is high-intensity motion-detector security lights that some have installed in backyards. These are often turned on by a kitty cat wandering across a backyard. I don't think these little wanderers are a security threat to anyone.
Most of these security lights have an adjustment on them that controls the sensitivity of when they will activate. If you must use them at least adjust this so a stray cat or dog will not activate them unnecessarily.
Your co-operation would be very appreciated.
Also, let your children see the stars again and enjoy the wonders of our universe. Lighting also effects the migration of birds, so astronomers aren't the only promoters of dark skies!
Ed Majden,
Courtenay