As much as I agree that the Buffalo skyline is completely underwhelming when viewed at night, I wonder if this will gain any traction in the era of sky high energy prices, global warming and starter steps at energy conservation. Is it worth it to "waste' energy for something that is purely aesthetic?
I tend to initially agree with Texpat on this. Energy costs are going to continue to rise and some municipalities are starting to consider nighttime ordinances that attempt to ban unnecessary lighting from being on at all. So I do wonder about the environmental issues or statements that might send. Maybe it could be just as progressive to turn ALL of the lights off where not needed at night. Saving the city money reducing its overall carbon footprint.
That being said there are some very, almost would call them, super, high efficient lighting that is being researched and hopefully will be coming to market soon that could provide for an environmentally friendly way to light our streets (and hopefully our skyline) while using less energy than we do now.
Solar could be used to light it up at night, at least for a few hours after dusk. The Rand Building could look great lit up so long as they utilize an expert. There's nothing worse than a cool buiulding floodlit from one lousy light source. The HSBC Tower could be trimmed in neon, like the towers in Dallas and Houston, but that's tacky. Maybe a funky projection of various images across its facade. Project the faces of typical Buffalonians across it, or 'pizza war' imagery.
Russ, a personal story along these lines: a few years ago I arrived early one morning (before sunrise) in Buffalo to meet with a new client. Having some time to kill, I wandered down toward the waterfront to see if I could find the naval ships I'd heard about. Well, the ships had lights all over them, even along the rigging lines - my eyes were greeted with this amazing display before I got close enough to see any details of the ships, and it made a very strong impression on me.
If a sustainable way could be found to do it - as Texpat mentions - lighting of Buffalo's architecturally significant skyline could well create similar impressions for others.
Wow. I am aghast. Adding a bunch of lights where lights aren't needed sounds like a completely irresponsible thing to do. It is just my opinion, but I would call that light pollution and an embarrassing act of energy gluttony. Obviously I am not a city girl. I also rather enjoy the dark evenings along Lake Erie.
We should also light up Bashar Isaa's 40 stower tower when it is finally built....
This is not a pointless topic. Every major city I've visited does something unique with lighting. Buffalo has the Liberty Building and Electric Tower - what else can we do? How about Super Bright LEDs around the top of the HSBC? Something, anything - we definitely should do more considering our history. Dallas has green neon lights running the length of their tallest building. Before anyone talks about why we shouldn't do it, let us figure out if its worth while. When/if the peace bridge gets done with the 567 ft. tower lit up a night, lighting up our next tallest structure(HSBC) should be a given. Regardless of your feelings about the Peace bridge (didn't mean to open that can of worms) Buffalo needs to do more. People move to cities that look good during the day AND night. Russ, you are not alone in your belief that we are missing and easy opportunity to make our city more appealing to outsiders.
Energy saving lights would not be harmfull at all. I would luv to see the Rand Building and The Brisbane Lit up again.
I would love to see downtowns skyline lit up better...while we are at it I think the grainmills would look pretty cool lit up as well
My goodness...with energy prices skyrocketing, budgets bursting, and the ozone disapearing you people want to "light up the skyline"?!?!?! Get serious...there should be a movement to turn OFF all of the lights...when I drive past downtown at night and/or on the weekends and see all of the office lights on it drives me crazy...especially in the county and city buildings! turn the lights OFF and save money and the environment! unbelievable!
How about all of that free clean electricity produced from the falls...and listen to you people give me a break...there is energy saving technology to alleviate some of the costs associated with lighting these buildings up...the benefit of lighting these buildings up and beautifying our city is more important in my opinion at least
DTJ - IF we can get this "free clean electricity" i certainly hope it would be put to better use than lighting up vacant buildings at night...how about lowering electricity costs for government and small businesses?? nothing like a paragraph of conclusory statements to make a point...seriously, do you really think people would move to buffalo because our skyline is lit up??? me thinks they would move to buffalo for better jobs and lower taxes --- both of which could result from wiser use of available cheap electricity and/or increased availability of cheap electricity...
I always thought the skyline should have better lighting at night. kinda sad looking at the moment. The buildings that are lite up look great. Most larger city's do it and it looks fantastic if done right. I'm sure it could be done with cost/energy effective LED or neon.
Great idea. LED's would be the way to go but unless there is some sort of financial or tax incentive to building owners, I doubt this idea will go anywhere.
I would not want downtown to look like Vegas but showing off the ornate details on many buildings can only add to Buffalo as a tourist destination as is done in many European cities.
I like Damps idea. I seem to remember last year around this time when the Sabres were in the playoffs there was a projection of the Sabres logo on the Key Center Towers as well as other light and Sabre displays around the city. It really added to the mood and excitement around town. I also like when the Electric Tower is lit up with Christmas and Sabres colors instead of plain white. Definitely fun to see.
Its our image that i am talking about...a few lights here and there or not will not raise or bring down our taxes lmfao!
Downtownjunkie, your idea of beautiful and my idea of beautiful are very different.
well, the submission suggests lighting the HSBC tower, the Rand building, the new federal courthouse, and other buildings from the rand - hyatt area - well, all that 365 days a year - yup, that's a whole lot of money, pollution and waste!
Wow - to all you energy conservations, why don't you go to the Las Vegas Rising(soon to be sinking) blog. If that city reduced its light output by 50% it would still be 10x more than Buffalo and they would be rioting in the streets. Buffalo does get the majority of electricity from hydro electric so stop with your ozone BS. Granted, the USA is a very wasteful country, but give Buffalo a break. We have a right to market ourselves. I can't wait till someone calculates the carbon foot print per capita for major cities. Given our short commute times and that we do use hydro electric(carbon footprint calculators, however, wrongly assume all ecectricty is the same); I bet we are one of the lowest.
I don't see it as the city's role to light up the skyscrapers downtown - I see it as the role of the individuals and corporations which own the buildings. We can suggest the idea to owners and encourage them to find creative ways of lighting their buildings after dark (stressing the opportunity for some great PR) but ultimately it's their call, not ours.
Other cities do it? Uh, no they don't. They just happen to have more building owners that do it.
good one magnum, i'm sure a few blogers were choking on their granola with fury over highliting our city in the evening with some sort of lighting.
this could be an opportunity for a larger showcase project of sustainable technology. I don't think people understand the potential of the new plasma or even LED could have on cost savings. Current streets lights are typically what, Tungsten, Halogen? Nothing more than longer lasting incandescents. If we changed one major radial (your choice) into a higher efficiency form we could light up our downtown and probably STILL draw less power from the grid.
I am all for environmental concerns. hell just look at half of my posts here but there are ways to be beautiful and environmental and economic all at the same time. This isn't Lights = wasteful argument. the truth is some lights in downtown would be very welcomed by tourists and visitors to let them know or at least think they are not alone or safe. There are some very dark streets in our city (not just in downtown) and this feeds the perceived safety or crime that so many have about us.
I say bring on the lights, do them smartly (don't point them up), efficiently (use new technologies) and lets show off the beautiful city that we have.
good one magnum, i'm sure a few blogers were choking on their granola with fury over highliting our city in the evening with some sort of lighting.
Way back during the Griffin administration there was actually a concerted effort to light up the skyline. I believe that city hall, the Liberty [Bank] Building and possibly others were lit or re-lit at that time.
sbrof - you're absolutely right. This area once led the way in terms of lighting technology and we can do it again. Perhaps a partnership between business and our educational institutions could result in creative and efficient solutions to the problem.
PS - I think Buffalo streetlights are sodium, which is why the light has a yellow cast. They emit light in a narrower spectrum.
The City Of Lights was coined approximately one hundred years ago when Buffalo was the first city with electric streetlights. Buffalo ushered in a century that world history shall remember for harnessing the energy that marked the upward surge of mankind.
Energy will continue to deliver us to our human potential. I have full confidence and faith in Americans, and Buffalonians in particular, that they shall continue to rise to the challenges ahead and innovate new and safe energy sources before our God-given fossil resources are exhausted.
I have faith that our system of free enterprise will provide the motivation and rewards to those individuals willing to race to the top of the next hill.
To exhibit my confidence and appreciation to those individuals, past and present, that will deliver us to our bright future - the lights at 153 Delaware Avenue stay on!
Cue the heroic background music for Bloviator's comment. Followed by wild applause and cheering.
Now I’m all confused.
http://www.buffalorising.com/story/enlightening_the_world
Enlightening The World Tonight
Mar 29th, 11:16am By queenseyes
When you head out the door to go to Trimania tonight, don't forget to turn your house lights off. Earth activists are asking that everyone, everywhere, turn out their lights between 8:00 and 9:00pm as part of a worldwide earth awareness event called Earth Hour. Get out the candles and tell ghost stories... go to bed early... organize seances... break out a bottle of wine with your partner. The objective of the self-controlled power outage has been designed to broadcast your belief that Climate Warming is real.
…The goal of Earth Hour is to garner support from more cities around the world to become aggressive when it comes to being 'green'. The effort should not stop after the lights go back on... it's time to rethink the way we are living our everyday lives.
Next year Buffalo should be on the roster of participating cities. Until that time, you may want to consider signing up yourself in support of Earth Hour.
Ok, which is it - OFF or ON???
JUST MAKE UP YOUR MINDS, YOU ELMWOOD SUBARU-DRIVING CHEERLEADING HIPPIE FREAKS!!!!
Since Brokeepsblockingme isn’t around lately, someone had to say that.
For the record, it won't matter one way or another if all the lights are on. Just another self esteem idea that won't make any difference. So sure go ahead, turn em all on so we feel better about ourselves - then turn em off for an hour to show we care about global warming (even though it's been cooling of late - hence the new name 'Global Climate Change'). Hold a seance, have some wine... drive your SUVs to where you can switch to a bike to go to the next protest at Delaware Park... the important thing is to always be making a statement.
Thanks Damp. Some day I just might try an RD impression. That might be a little tricker.
I'm not buying this. Why promote light pollution? Excess lighting would be a tremendous waste of money, not to mention being an environmentally irresponsible move.
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