The last days of Berlin’s gas streetlamps

[nforgerit]

There's this story the ex-mayor of Berlin once told that there was a streetlamp directly in front of Rotes Rathaus (townhall) which was enlightened day and night and he couldn't figure out for a year or so who was responsible for that.

Due to its history the responsibilities in Berlin about simple things like that are separated in such arcane ways that no one really knows who is in charge for what. Even reforming that seems almost impossible and makes Berlin what it is: A likable but highly dysfunctional city state (I think I may say that as a German and ex-Berliner).

[testfrequency]

Very interesting. This is the first I’m hearing Berlin described as dysfunctional. I had a friend mention while I was visiting how bad the government support was “during Covid” for people who lost their jobs and wages, but didn’t want to pry.

Do berliners feel forgotten by their leaders? Maybe that’s preferred and allows for more individualism (better or worse)?

[ahartmetz]

I live in Berlin and I like the old gas lamps. Fortunately, the LED retrofits are very good at imitating the gas lights - I initially didn't expect city officials to care and then do such a good job. I sometimes hold my ear to a lamp post to listen for the typical hissing noise. It's become rare that I hear it, and if I do, it's a surprise.

[rob74]

I'm a bit confused by the article: they say that West Berlin kept the gas lamps, but Unter den Linden, which they give as one of the main examples, was in East Berlin? Especially since the "out with the old, in with the new" attitude was more widespread in the West actually (for instance, West Berlin completely dismantled their tram network, while it was kept in East Berlin). Plus, East Germany had easy access to gas from the USSR...

[TazeTSchnitzel]

> Electric lights also have a grim impact on the local ecosystem. During a summer night, one light kills roughly 250 insects; by comparison, gas is harmless.

Wait, what? Do gas lamps somehow not affect insects?

[Spivak]

They don't attract insects. Couldn't tell you why but I've actually exploited this for throwing outdoor parties at night.

Those floodlights will be swarming with bugs but doting the place with kerosene lanterns they couldn't be less interested.

[londons_explore]

Gas lamps are way dimmer.

Also, bugs have probably evolved not to go near the glowing embers of fires.

[Someone]

London also has gas lamps, but they seem less under threat.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0fm4f8m/the-last-remaining-l... has a nice video explaining the tech, explaining that, nowadays, they’re switched on and off mechanically, with a mechanical clock in each lamp post.

[teruakohatu]

It seems like some of them are at risk of being replaced by LEDs.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-63092357

[BoxOfRain]

There's some in the town of Malvern in the West Midlands too which I think are specifically perserved. I like having a bit of living history kept around!

[evanelias]

In the US, a few towns in New Jersey still exclusively use gas streetlamps. South Orange has over 1400 of them, which is somewhat ironic since Thomas Edison was based in neighboring West Orange. Glen Ridge has either 666 or 667, depending on the source, which makes me wonder if they installed an extra one during the 80s Satanic panic.

[leviathant]

I've spotted a few in Philadelphia, but they're the exception, not the rule. The only specific place that pops in my head are the lamps in front of the Fireman's Hall Museum in Old City.

[IceHegel]

LED lights mess with my brain. The flashing is problematic.

[zamadatix]

Flicker isn't intrinsic to LEDs, just cheap ones people flock to.

[expertentipp]

Motion detector and dimming through discrete brightness levels make me hate this technology. I hate when stingy idiots start to cut costs, they purchase the cheapest crappiest plastic and install it everywhere.

[tormeh]

I’m gradually developing a loathing for conservationists. Reading about these people blocking progress on the fossil-fuel phase-out is very grating. I’m sure they’re also opposed to nuclear power and other good things like happy children.

[gsk22]

I can't tell if this is sarcastic so maybe I'm taking the bait here.

Regardless, there is probably a middle ground for the lamps between "widespread use" and "extinction". It's not great that they are inefficient, but they are certainly historical, and the emissions from a few thousand gas lamps are a drop in the bucket for Berlin and the world.

I would argue that the cultural, historical and educational value of the lamps should be given weight against the downsides and preserved to some extent.