View Full Version : Illuminated Shop fronts, victor mode
timwilky
23-03-07, 11:00 AM
It struck me as I was driving through my local down at 11 pm last night that all the "large" shops had massive illuminated signs on the front, lit when the shop had been closed for hours.
OK, not my problem, if the shops want to waste energy it is their choice. They pay the bill. But in these days of enviromental awareness, global warming as a result of power stations etc. Surely the responsible organisation would have to justify to their shareholders why they waste energy and simply don't turn the damm things off at night.
Name and shame in no particular order, Currys, Comet, Halfords.
It struck me as I was driving through my local down at 11 pm last night that all the "large" shops had massive illuminated signs on the front, lit when the shop had been closed for hours.
OK, not my problem, if the shops want to waste energy it is their choice. They pay the bill. But in these days of enviromental awareness, global warming as a result of power stations etc. Surely the responsible organisation would have to justify to their shareholders why they waste energy and simply don't turn the damm things off at night.
Name and shame in no particular order, Currys, Comet, Halfords.
Are you aware of how much juice it takes to fire up those lights?
It's far more of a waste to turn them off & then on again every day than it is to just leave the beggars running constantly!
Bluesteel
23-03-07, 11:24 AM
Are you aware of how much juice it takes to fire up those lights?
It's far more of a waste to turn them off & then on again every day than it is to just leave the beggars running constantly!
I agree. Some of these lights are designed to run constantly. Although wouldn't it be nice if everyone used LEDs, like nice Mr Suzuki!
Are you aware of how much juice it takes to fire up those lights?
It's far more of a waste to turn them off & then on again every day than it is to just leave the beggars running constantly!
That's not ture... even the common floresent tube, on its inital startup only uses enough extra power to run it for a additonal 23 seconds.
That's not true... even the common floresent tube, on its inital startup only uses enough extra power to run it for a additonal 23 seconds.
Geek!
Why would anyone know that?
It was on Mythbusters recently.
Geek!
Why would anyone know that?
Beat me to it!:smt075 :p
injury_ian
23-03-07, 01:12 PM
That's not ture... even the common floresent tube, on its inital startup only uses enough extra power to run it for a additonal 23 seconds.
Ive often wondered just that question!
Anyone know what the cross over point is when idleing at traffic lights traffic jams etc? I know in one of the sweden type countrys its law to turn off engine at traffic lights.
Ive often wondered just that question!
Anyone know what the cross over point is when idleing at traffic lights traffic jams etc? I know in one of the sweden type countrys its law to turn off engine at traffic lights.
In a built up city that'll flatten a battery quick sharpish.
It takes 75Amps to crank an SV, and I'm told 10mins running (not just idling) to make up for that.
If you turn your engine off (and lets assume you turn lights off too) at every set of lights in a big city that you get stopped at, they're closer than 10mins apart, so you're never going to replace the juice to start it up!
Only a politician could dream up something like that.
Didn't ford get someone to design and build a transit van that switches itself off at traffic lights and junctions to save fuel?
Filipe M.
23-03-07, 02:24 PM
Didn't ford get someone to design and build a transit van that switches itself off at traffic lights and junctions to save fuel?
I remember such a car a couple of years ago, was it a Citröen Saxo? It would turn the engine on by itself as soon as you stepped on the gas.
I remember such a car a couple of years ago, was it a Citröen Saxo? It would turn the engine on by itself as soon as you stepped on the gas.
I think Audi did something similar as well
adamfool
23-03-07, 09:13 PM
I remember such a car a couple of years ago, was it a Citröen Saxo? It would turn the engine on by itself as soon as you stepped on the gas.
they also make a version of the c2 that does that.
Red ones
24-03-07, 10:19 AM
The 1980 VW Polo Formel E used to switch it's engine off at traffic lights - so nothing new there.
Yea, it is a myth that it costs more to fire up flourescent tubes than it does to run them. This is especially true with HF tri-phosphor fittings, which are far more efficient than the ololder switched start ones.
More retailers are changing their lighting - there are more and more who are moving over to LED lighting on signage, but i do find it annoying how so many leave their signage on at 2am when the number of people seeing the signage is so few.
I would argue that at 11pm you have passed the shop - I suspect quite a number of other people have too. The signage is a form of advertising and has raised your awareness of their presence (albeit in a negative way on this occasion) and it has, therefore, done what it was supposed to.
Next time you pass the stores in day light, look again. Do they leave the lights on in sunlight when the benefit is zero? I bet they do!!
I have recently changed our strategy so that the signs go off in the day and go off late in teh evening when the level of passing traffic has dropped, teh signs then come on again just before the morning rush. (This way people may THINK we have our signs on all the time, but we save Carbon emissions and money - ie we used to waste money!)
I find it interesting that the stores you name all have one thing in common - they do not make a commitment on their websites for the reduction of Carbon emissions! Currys say that they will demand stores to identify their own targets, Comet make no comment, Halfords say they have measured their levels - but do not make any commitment.
Jelster
24-03-07, 10:31 AM
My old 1969 Vauxhall Viva would switch itself off at every set of lights too... And every junction, more to do with it being a heap of junk that saving the planet though :D
I was in Munich all last week, and they even have street lights that are movement detected, as are escalators, room lighting etc. They'll all be hugging trees next.
.
Red ones
25-03-07, 10:36 AM
I have already installed room lights that are on motion detectors at work. I am currently looking at car park and street lighting at are. I have touted the idea of escalators on motion dtection, but the benefits are small - a very busy building, and the effect of swtiching on and the high current drawn at start up do out-weigh the benefits most of the time.
the white rabbit
25-03-07, 10:49 AM
I was in Munich all last week, and they even have street lights that are movement detected, as are escalators, room lighting etc. They'll all be hugging trees next.
.
How the Fuhrer loved to hug trees :rant:
Anyway, I was impressed (I expect some people have this) by wireless controlled central heating valves when I was last in Germany.
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.