An update on the effect of LED lighting on city skylines in this piece in Atlantic Cities:
LED lighting is transforming skylines all over the world—and architects, city governments, and urban denizens should take note. These illuminated nightscapes promise a new worldwide arena where global cities will compete for recognition.
It’s a gradual trend that has reached a fever pitch in recent months. Recent articles from the New York Times and NY1 discuss the LED-ification of two of New York City’s landmark skyscrapers: the Empire State Building and the Helmsley Building.
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Leona Helmsley, ‘Queen of Mean’ and wife of Harry, owner of the Helmsley Building, never objected to a little excess. So she’d no doubt be thrilled with this over-the-top display:
Go to 0.46 for showtime.
They might be fun, but I also think that LED’s used this way are an example of Jevons’ Paradox. Since LED’s are cheaper to run, we can have more of them.
City lights entertain people… and kill birds. Here’s a recent story about swallows disappearing from the Lower Mainland, partly because light pollution drives them away:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/08/01/bc-swallows-decline.html