The street lights that cost the earth - by Hannah Beeching (From Your Local Guardian)

The street lights that cost the earth - by Hannah Beeching

10:39am Monday 20th August 2007 in News

Last week I was on a slow train to Waterloo and, on finding a stray copy of the Times, read an article about Sienna Miller, who is now an ambassador for the climate change campaign "Global Cool". I returned home full of hope for the future - only to be outraged by what I saw when walking down my local high street the following evening.

Of course I know that companies leave lights and signs on at all times for promotional reasons, but as a result, the carbon footprints of individual placements are massive. It has only just dawned on me that there is absolutely no need for it in the night.

The following Tuesday I went into my receptionist job in a local beauty salon and was again shocked by the lack of consideration for the environment. Machines are left on overnight, six 100W Standard Light Bulbs are left on at all times, and the end of day cleaning bares witness to a minimum of 6 plastic bags going into one big black bag. It doesn't seem much, but with lights turned off, or even switching to low energy light bulbs the salon could cut down on Carbon emissions and save money.

It doesn't help that a lot of us are sceptics when it comes to recycling. Although I recycle, I can't help being disheartened at the thought that the effort I make for the environment is obliterated by the waste produced by businesses.

The simple answer is for local councils to introduce a new system of fines for daytime businesses that leave shop window and signage lighting on between say 0100 and 0500 hrs. At that time there is simply no need for it - I'm sure the late night drivers to and from work and the party-goers wouldn't even notice whether business lights were on or off. It does seem absurd that the Government is asking domestic users to unplug their telly at night while neon business signs continue to blaze away into the small hours.

Aside from my rant, I am more then enthusiastic about the schemes Ken Livingston is setting up for London; the freedom bike launch, inspired by a similar scheme in Paris, will encourage citizens as well as tourists to get fit by cycling all over town, as well as keeping our Carbon fuming vehicles stationary. His plans to hit drivers of gas consuming 4x4 cars in the Congestion Charge zone with a £25-a-day tax is genius, perhaps 4x4 drivers will finally realise that London's roads are, in actual fact not rocky plains or mountain tracks. Even minor changes, such as charging 10p for a plastic bag will limit the amount of waste being sent to UK landfill sights.

So green readers, when you next go for a massage, to pick up a travel brochure or to grab a ham and cheese Panini, ask whoever's serving you if the packaging is recyclable and if they're short on climate change.'