Those lights are installed primarily for security and insurance reasons. They run them at full brightness because bright light deters thieves and vandals. They don't particularly care how law-abiding people feel about it. Maybe if they get hundreds of complaints they'll adjust the brightness -- but if they do, they'll probably use low-frequency PWM that will be even worse, because low-frequency PWM circuits are inexpensive. It's unlikely they would get any complaints at all, though; the vast majority of people are not interesting in preserving their night vision, and would prefer bright light everywhere they go.
I use and enjoy both. I find cool white contrasts better against ambient lighting. Indoors or in really dark environments I prefer a warmer tint.
What's the color temperature of moon light? That's been a source of night time lighting for longer than fire and candles. I know dark adapted vision doesn't see color very well.
Well put. This more or less summarizes my view point on this issue. The typical 6000K+ flashlight @ 70ish CRI is useful because of its contrast with most ambient lighting. When being run over by a car is a real danger, I reach for cool white. I keep a Malkoff M61 for this very purpose. It's less than beautiful, though.
I can't say I'm done with cool white entirely, but I have a strong preference for neutral and/or high cri lights.
High pressure sodium is something like 20 CRI and up to 160 lumens per watt. Low pressure sodium is effectively monochromatic at 0 CRI but slightly more efficient than high pressure sodium. Metal halide peaks at closer to 100 lumens per watt but can hit 90 CRI with specialty bulbs; 65 looks to be closer to what standard bulbs hit.Construction sites use these because they're bright.
Cost, tint, CRI etc do not play a role when it's life or death involved.
Oh, and they're cool white.
When it absolutely, positively matters, brightness comes first and cool white appears brighter.
Bluer tints will make you feel more awake though. More alert, but less capable of picking up on details and reacting to the environment. How much of this is practically measurable vs. theory? I don't know.
Agreed.
Humans spent hundreds of thousands of years looking at an amber camp fire at night before going to sleep. Blue light stops melatonin production and wakes you up, which can disrupt sleep cycles if exposed too late in the evening.
Warm or Neutral/Natural White also has better color rendition, so is more useful if color identification is important at night (wiring, first responders, fluids, etc.)
Blue is for working or searching IMHO. I avoid blue if possible unless it is called for.
Mark
I concur. I believe I've purged my entire collection of cools. Either sold or gave them away. I like warm to neutrals with a slight lean towards the warms...