The University Lights the Way

It's a grey, November afternoon, and the sky is darkening. Gregory Rudnick, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, rides his bike, heading home. As he passes over the bridge on Daisy Hill, exiting campus and entering Lawrence proper, he can't help but notice a change in the glare of the streetlights overhead. As the puddles of light that his tires cross grow larger, Rudnick glances at the heavens. He knows much of the light from the Lawrence streetlights is shooting up, to be lost in the open sky.

            The University has been operating under an environmentally friendly and energy efficient exterior lighting system since its November 2005 deal with Chevron Energy Solutions. The city of Lawrence, on the other hand, adheres to the standards of energy provider Westar, Incorporated, the company which also installs and maintains Lawrence public lights. Despite The make and bulb of these lights are less efficient than those at the University and cause light pollution.

Light pollution includes all negative effects of inefficient artificial lighting. The world of science and environmentalism has recently shone a spotlight on the issue after the release of several new scientific studies showing never-considered results.

"The first effect is energy waste," said Gary Webber, program coordinator in the chemistry department, who has presented to Lawrence city boards on light pollution. "We are in the middle of an energy crisis. Every photon of light that goes away from where it is supposed to go, wastes money, wastes electricity."

According to KU Facilities Operations Web site, the University spent a total of $9,309,889 for electric and natural gas in 2006. Despite high natural gas costs, electricity remains the more expensive energy form, with 59% for the total cost for only 47% of the total energy consumed.

Energy waste causes additional environmental problems.

            "The huge expenditure of energy just to light cities increases the carbon footprint and the consumption of fossil fuels," said Greg Burg, assistant director of the undergraduate biology program.

Studies released show direct effects of light pollution on the environment. Unnatural light may change migration and mating patterns in birds and other animals. At least one study cited by National Geographic has found a correlation between breast cancer and light pollution levels.

"Humans and other organisms are very sensitive to light levels," Rudnick said.

Efficient lighting could reduce these wasteful effects drastically. The University's full cutoff lights direct the beam downward to light its intended target. Westar's preferred cobra head model allows light to escape.

"The primary purpose of are lights are to illuminate," Rudnick said. "Any light that doesn't hit where we want it to hit is a waste."

The type of bulb also dictates efficiency. Low-pressure sodium bulbs release all light in the visible spectrum. All of the energy expended by the bulb goes to lighting the street. The University uses high-pressure sodium bulbs, which though less efficient than low-pressure sodium bulbs are still decidedly more efficient than mercury vapor lights. Westar uses this type especially in yard lighting. These lights emit light all across the spectrum. This means that a mercury bulb is expending energy by releasing light in the UV spectrum, at a wavelength invisible to humans.

While Westar has told the city that switching models would cost much more money, the cost might balance out in the end.

"Anytime we can do anything to help cut energy or save the environment, it saves money for us," said Steve Bennett, building and structures manager for the city, "We're constantly looking to see how much we can cut down."

Aesthetics also play a role. The white light emitted by mercury vapor lights is more like daylight than the orangish glow of sodium lights. Low lighting may also cause security concerns for pedestrians. However, there are bright streetlights in Lawrence on streets with little pedestrian traffic. An uproar occurred last spring when Westar installed 40 lights in a one-mile stretch along Kasold Drive, an arterial road but one rarely used by pedestrians. The neighbors complained so much about the brightness of the lights that the city turned half of them off. 

This may spark a trend of consciousness. Chuck Soules, Lawrence public works director, plans to create a task force this winter to discuss more efficient lighting choices with Westar Inc. Jeff Severin, KU director of the Center for Sustainability, said that in other ways, the city is considering the environment. He cited the Mayor's Climate Protection Task Force, which will develop recommendations to reduce energy emissions. By 2020, the committee wants to cut the city's energy use by 30%.

"The city will be setting a standard," Severin said.

However, in dealing with a type of pollution called by National Geographic writer Verlyn Klinkenborg  "the easiest remedied", Lawrence is still in the dark.