It seems that eco-friendliness is more prominent in some spaces than others, no matter what the reasons for this tendency are. Thus, a trend is spreading through small towns across Germany. Tight budgets have forced making hard decisions, including turning the lights out at night. No one is on the streets at night anyway, so why pay for the electricity to run the street lights? But residents have revolted, as they fear a rise in criminality rates, or simply for their safety while stumbling through the dark streets to walk the dog or return from a late night out. Proving necessity is the mother of invention, a handful of clever solutions are being implemented; some with interesting consequences.

The solution seems to have started in the small town of Morgenroethe-Rautenkranz in the Erzegebirge. Over one and a half years ago, the 900 citizens of Morgenroethe-Rautenkranz were plunged into darkness each night, but given the option to turn the lights on by mobile telephone. Older citizens were concerned about their ability to master this new technology, but practice makes perfect. The first two weeks of the program, the lights remained on almost all night long as residents remained awake late for an opportunity to test the new system! But now the lights stay off except when needed.

 

The town saves 4000 Euro ($5300) per year, which may not seem much, but is still better than nothing. Moreover, the small town that has already implemented this program is apparently an inspiration for other German towns that have decided to apply the same technique.

 

The town of Doeblitz has used a similar system for about a year, invention which is attributed to local resident Heinrich Fruhauf. After tripping and falling in the darkness, Fruhauf got permission from the town to install a modified mobile telephone in the electrical box controlling the street lamps. All of the citizens can call that number, and the lights come on. A timer shuts the lights off again in 15 minutes. It's as simple as that.

 

Things take a turn for the complicated in Doerentrup, though, because of the dial-in system installed there. Although residents appear happy with it, the Doerentrup system requires users to register, and to enter a six-digit number to identify the area that they want lit. Users must know the number of the area where they want light either by looking the numbers up in an on-line database, or finding the numbers posted on the nearby street lamp, probably a difficult task given that the street lamps are not yet lit. An application to patent the idea has been submitted, under the business model of Dial4Light.

 
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