Environment: a Sarthoise association hunts down polluting street lamps

She hunts down illegal lighting. The association France Nature Environnement is launching a somewhat unusual campaign to identify all the public lighting that poses a problem in Sarthe. A bit special because France Nature Environnement puts the Sarthois community to work. She asks them to bring a camera or mobile phone and to report street lamps or overly powerful lighting on the platform. Sentinels of Nature. Street lamps, poorly adjusted, which pose problems of light pollution. Beyond energy waste, this lighting is also a danger for biodiversity explains Richard Flamand, departmental secretary of France Nature Environnement in Sarthe.

France Bleu Maine: France Nature Environ calls on the people of Sarthois to become the Sentinels of Nature. In what way?

Richard Flamant: By asking them, when they notice lighting that seems entirely suitable to them, to report it to us on a dedicated Internet platform.

By writing an email, taking a photo?

Yes, it's always good to geolocate and then you actually post the photo on the Sentinelle de la nature.fr platform, you will be guided. It works very well.

What type of street lamp, what public lighting poses a problem?

We still have “ball” type street lamps. We have all known them but they illuminate a lot and they light up the sky. So there is a loss of energy. Which in these times of energy saving is a bit of a shame but it is mainly because it has a very strong impact on biodiversity at night. Animals, insects, mammals that need to move, to feed. The insects swirl around these lampposts, they become exhausted and they die. It's a shame for them, already, and indirectly it's a shame because they don't help feed the bats, for example.

So this has a direct impact on biodiversity?

Yes, this can actually be quantified, you just need to walk by a lamppost to actually see butterflies that have exhausted themselves, that have fallen dead, inanimate, to the ground.

There were quite a few of these “ball” floor lamps in the 80s, but there are still fewer and fewer of them.

There are still some left. And there are still street lamps that provide too much light. So when I say too much, it is because they are actually turned on early and they are turned off late even if the municipalities generally have chosen to regulate and effectively slow down this electricity consumption. Beyond street lamps, we also target these advertising panels, these windows, these signs which remain lit for too long and which also harm biodiversity.

However, lighting areas in public areas are regulated. Is this regulation not respected?

Maybe not enough. This is also why we are mobilizing. There are always straight passes.

These “ball” street lamps must disappear by the end of the year. Why are you launching this campaign?

Because indeed, it is always good to check everywhere, throughout the territory. In Sarthe but also throughout Pays de la Loire because our operation concerns the entire region.

But does that mean that the mayors have not done what is necessary to change them? We remind you that these ball street lamps will be banned in principle from January 1.

Not only these ball floor lamps but also all those who have wasted lighting.

Mayors have nevertheless made efforts in recent years, with the increase in energy prices. Many municipalities have reduced their lighting ranges. Isn't that enough yet?

It's still not enough. We can always do better in this area. Without talking about turning everything off, we can rethink the lighting ranges when there are fewer people, when there is less need. We can remove a street lamp, selectively turn off every other street lamp. There are a whole bunch of tricks that are now known and practiced. We must extend these practices across the entire territory.

The mayors will tell you that changing these street lights has a cost while municipalities are called upon to make budgetary savings.

Yes, we agree, but lighting technologies have made enormous progress. Electric energy consumption is greatly reduced. So it's a good investment.

What are you going to do with this data, these reports from Sarthois?

Each Sarthois who sends us an alert is received by a referent. I am one of the referees and I try to provide the best possible answer. For example by sending a letter addressed to the Mayor or Madam Mayor saying: this type of lighting in housing estates has been reported in your municipality. It's simply a very kind little letter to show that we are part of those who are mobilizing for a better environment and for the defense of biodiversity.