Prague is considering regulating light sources with the help of building regulations
As councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09) told ČTK and Blesk today, people complain, for example, about neon signs and signs of establishments that emit bright light. According to him, the application is now applied at the level of the Municipal Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), but it is not yet clear when the change could occur.
“It simply came to our notice then. We are looking for a suitable legislative framework on how we can regulate, “said the councilor. He added that similar advertising facilities should be authorized by the building authorities, but that the owners have always obtained the necessary permits, which opens up another possibility for the city to reduce the disturbing elements. The second is to be a possible modification of building regulations.
The councilor added that in the case of a public lighting lamp, the municipal company Technologie of the Capital City of Prague (THMP) is trying to adjust the light to the accepted level and color in the event of a complaint. He added that the company is also testing lamp attenuation at a time with a lower number of pedestrians for roughly significant one-third savings, which also brings electricity.
According to Chabr, the city is gradually replacing old sodium lamps in lamps with LED luminaires, which have several times lower consumption and last up to 25 years compared to old lamps, which have a lifespan of two years. The councilor further stated that the THMP LED lights are set to a warmer color, which is a bit more energy-intensive, but the cool blue light is unpleasant for the human eye. The city therefore uses it only where appropriate, specifically at pedestrian crossings, which must be illuminated as brightly as possible.
There are about 135,000 public lighting lamps in Prague. THMP has been taking care of the lighting in the metropolis since 2018, taking over the activities from another city company, Trade Center Praha. Before that, the Eltodo company had been taking care of Prague lamps since the end of the 1990s, but it ended in 2008, but the city extended it again without a tender. These were orders for several hundred crowns. Politicians were originally heading for an open billion-dollar competition that would lead to a permanent lights manager, but eventually chose to create their own joint stock company.