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type: Answer
type: WrittenAnswer
answer has question: CKFqrNsa
answer has answering person: tXbYU8RO
answer text: The majority of street lighting in England is the responsibility of local highway authorities and it is for them to decide what level of service they wish their street lighting network to deliver, what level of funding is required, and what technical specifications to apply. While no assessment has been undertaken by the Department for Transport on the use of LED lighting, a number of trials and reviews have been undertaken by local authorities and other organisations. Results from these suggest LED lighting can be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional lighting and also gives rise to better colour identification. As LEDs have a longer life expectancy when compared to a traditional lamp, implementing such a change in street lighting can result in both energy and maintenance savings for councils. However, any benefits need to be considered in the context of the role that street lighting plays in each local area that it serves. The Government is not aware of any robust research addressing community melatonin status and sleeping patterns in relation to changes in street lighting technology. There is, however, good experimental evidence that whiter light, as from LED street lighting, is more effective in suppressing melatonin production than the red/orange light from traditional street lighting. Such an effect may be helpful in keeping drivers alert and preventing accidents. Recognising that people will generally be able to use curtains or blinds to exclude externally arising light from their homes, Public Health England do not see changes in outdoor lighting technology as a significant public health issue.
answer given date: 2013-10-14+01:00
answer has answering body: XouN12Ow
written answer has answering body: XouN12Ow