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Colin Dunn

2005

Rapsons Orkney - lighting energy waste

During a recent week long stay on Orkney, I noticed that two extremely bright floodlights on the Rapsons Orkney Bus compound in the Kirkwall industrial estate were left on 24 hours a day. To compound the energy waste, the lights are asymmetric fittings designed to me mounted at or near horizontal, yet are tilted at about 70 degrees _above_ horizontal - most of the light shines straight up into the sky. Even during daylight the light in the photo is visible from 3 miles away along the coast, and at night it is by far the brightest light seen when entering from the West into Kirkwall (see picture #45). What makes these lights even more of an eyesore is how they contrast with excellent full cut-off lighting around the ferry terminal only a few hundred yards away, where far more light is created but directed properly downward with no dazzle or glare.
Picture Added on 23 October 2005.