Letter to the editor: Responsible lighting

To the editor:

I write on behalf of the Lawrence Alliance for Responsible Lighting (LARL), which encourages Lawrence to limit the Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of city outdoor street and security lighting to no more than 3000 Kelvin (K), often called “warm white.” It is clear from the American Medical Association report of 2016 “Human and Environmental Effects of Light Emitting Diode (LED) Community Lighting” based on 30 years of research that community lighting of a CCT higher than 3000 K presents real potential for harm to humans and the environment because of the relatively high blue light content.

Westar representatives have objected to 3000 K lighting. An example of their reasoning is the claim that since the CCT of moonlight is 4100 K, the installation of 4000 K LEDs is harmless. This is odd. The strongest moonlight is about 1/50th the intensity required for roadway illumination. Plus, there is no evidence that 4000 K light improves perception of shapes or colors over that of 3000 K. The Spencer Museum renovation included 3000 K LED lights — the same color temperature of the incandescents used for years. Why does Westar drag moonlight into this?

As a lighting professional (retired exhibition designer, Spencer Museum, 1977-1999/associate member IESNA), I wonder why when the AMA makes a public statement on the research into these matters, the industry responds with vague claims of insufficient evidence?