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Turn out the lights
Article published on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 |
Editor:
As I was writing these comments around 6 p.m. last week, it was nearly 35 degrees – that’s not including the wind-chill factor – and, as always, the tennis court lights were on. No, no one was playing tennis.
My house faces the municipal ball fields and tennis courts in Madeira Beach, so there is no escape from seeing the bright spotlights every night.
I recently had a conversation with one of the commissioners and brought up the subject of the tremendous waste of electricity to have the lights shining when no one is around to use them. I asked him if anyone had considered installing timers. It seems logical to me to save on the enormous expense the lights are imposing on the city by keeping them shut off until someone wants to use the courts. His answer was that the huge halogen spotlights are not designed to be turned on and off, but I don’t see that as a problem. I see a solution.
My suggestion is to have the lights out always, especially over the tennis courts because the courts seem to be used much less at night than the ball fields. When tennis players wish to use the courts, they can locate an on switch which would be lighted and easily visible. There would be no off switch. After they turn the lights on, the lights would remain shining until the usual 10 p.m., which is the time normally set by the city to turn off. This way, there would be no turning on and off for an hour or so, and there would be no strain on the halogen lights. I am certain that many nights will pass without the lights being turned on at all. This will save money and energy.
I just read in the Jan. 10 issue of the Beach Beacon that the project of building boat slips around the municipal ball field is in the process of obtaining permitting and approval. It is forecast that the revenue generated to the city will be $40,000 a month. Since revenue is important to any city, does it not make sense to stop the waste of energy and unnecessary expenditures.
Turn out the lights, please.
Marcella Skopal
Madeira Beach
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Article published on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008
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