It also generated concerns with the homeowners association because converting to LED lights costs property owners more money, even though the new lights use less electricity.
Several homeowners investigated the new LED lights both from a cost perspective as well as their excessive brightness.
In the process, they discovered that the bright lights were contrary to the American Medical Association recommendations.
They had a rating of 4,000 Kelvin, which is in the blue spectrum, and an intensity of 6,000 lumens, which is very bright.
Among the things they learned from AMA is that excessive blue light affects melatonin, and that leads to a number of health issues in humans as well as animals.
The intense brightness of the new LEDs affects the human eye, which increases glare to the point that nighttime vision is reduced. This decrease in visual acuity raised safety concerns about night driving.
Eventually, Heritage Plantation persuaded Santee Cooper to reduce the brightness of the LEDs from 6,000 to 2,500 lumens and, more important, to reduce the color temperature from 4,000 to 3,000 Kelvin.
While this is a pilot project for Santee Cooper, the changes in my community have been dramatic.
I would encourage all communities to accept only the low-intensity LEDs when they need new streetlights.
PETER EISENBERG
Pawleys Island
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