The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: tombogan03884 on December 15, 2009, 09:05:44 PM
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091216/ap_on_re_us/us_snow_covered_stoplights
MILWAUKEE – Cities around the country that have installed energy-efficient traffic lights are discovering a hazardous downside: The bulbs don't burn hot enough to melt snow and can become crusted over in a storm — a problem blamed for dozens of accidents and at least one death.
"I've never had to put up with this in the past," said Duane Kassens, a driver from West Bend who got into a fender-bender recently because he couldn't see the lights. "The police officer told me the new lights weren't melting the snow. How is that safe?"
Many communities have switched to LED bulbs in their traffic lights because they use 90 percent less energy than the old incandescent variety, last far longer and save money. Their great advantage is also their drawback: They do not waste energy by producing heat.
Authorities in several states are testing possible solutions, including installing weather shields, adding heating elements like those used in airport runway lights, or coating the lights with water-repellent substances.
Short of some kind of technological fix, "as far as I'm aware, all that can be done is to have crews clean off the snow by hand," said Green Bay, Wis., police Lt. Jim Runge. "It's a bit labor-intensive."
How about scrapping them and going back to incandescent's ?
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DOH!
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Talk about irony. The CO2 released during production of the extra energy required to run the incandescent bulbs could have easily been offset by the trees used to make paper for the accident reports. ::) Wrap you brain around that one, Mr. Gore!
Swoop
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Not to mention the money saved on electricity can now help fund the research into how to keep the lights cleared.
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Go green... I feel bad for the people that got in a wreck, but thats damn funny.
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(http://whitemaleoppressor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/green-technology-life-time-future-electric-car-tesla-ev-safe-demotivational-poster-1243771106.jpg)
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New for Christmas the "Chia Chump"
(http://whitemaleoppressor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/green-technology-life-time-future-electric-car-tesla-ev-safe-demotivational-poster-1243771106.jpg)