Which Lighting Do You Prefer? Pine Grove Mills Streetlight Project Seeks Input

On February 15, 2022, the Board of Supervisors discussed lighting options for the planned Pine Grove Mills Streetlight Improvement Project. The changes in streetlighting stem from the Pine Grove Mills Mobility Study, where residents noted that streetlight and illumination were issues they would like to see resolved in the village.

Lighting options vary in their perception of warmth and coldness, a concept known as, "correlated color temperature", which is theorized to affect different aspects of our environment. Jennifer Harrington, Director of Lighting Design with Barton Associates, joined the meeting to discuss different lighting options that the township is able to choose from for the streetlight options.

"Groups like the International Dark Sky Association warn that higher color temperatures from streetlighting are potentially affecting human sleep patterns, animal migrations, and creating higher light pollution which makes it more difficult to see our starry skies at night", said Jennifer Harrington. "2700K color temperature is closer to fire, candlelight, and incandescent hues from the past, and helps regulate sleep patterns by promoting healthy levels of melatonin in the evening."

Dave Modricker, Public Works Director, invites residents to view the difference in the proposed warmer, 2700K LED lighting, and the alternative 4000K LED lighting with a lightbox provided to the township from Barton Associates.

"Currently, high pressure sodium lights are used in the Village of Pine Grove Mills, and are a warmer light, but outdated from the standpoint of energy efficiency and conservancy." said Dave Modricker. 

"LED technology has improved over time, and the lighting options available can reflect more of the natural light colors of the 2700K color temperature, or 4000K, which is a whiter, brighter light that is currently used for the streetlights in the rest of Ferguson Township. Seeing the lightbox in person allows for viewers to see the stark contrast in color temperatures, and is easier to understand visutally rather than talking about it."

The lighting options will be available for public viewing at the following time and location, and also upon request:

When:
Friday, February 25, 2022

Time:
11:00am to 1:00pm

Where: 
Ferguson Township Municipal Building
Main Meeting Room
3147 Research Drive
State College, PA 16801