Ask Slashdot: Setting Up Non-Obnoxious Outdoor Lighting?

An anonymous reader writes "My neighbor recently complained about my outdoor floodlight shining in her window. While trying to address this problem, I read an essay about the tragedy of light pollution, and started to think that this is a much broader issue. With all the new lighting technologies out there, this may be the right time to rethink lighting — both indoor and outdoor; public and private. I solved my problem by replacing the floodlight with a spotlight, but I also considered installing a colored light. What are some strategies for illuminating what we need to without casting excess light everywhere and inadvertently blinding our neighbors or keeping them awake?"

Mandatory Reading

[PktLoss]

Watch out, they may respond with poisonous gas!

http://www.27bslash6.com/halogen.html [27bslash6.com]

Re:But why?

[Anonymous Coward]

what's wrong with just carrying a torch?

Too much danger of starting a fire.

It's all relative

[Optimal Cynic]

It's all relative - replace your light with a carbon-arc searchlight, the sort they used to light up bombers during the War. After a couple of weeks of that making her bedroom look like a film set, she'll be thrilled when you put the original one back. Alternatively, put the light on a strobe circuit. Then you can claim with perfect accuracy that you have reduced the light output to half of what it was previously, and as a bonus her room will look really cool.

Goggles

[pr0nbot]

Surely this is the excuse you've been waiting for to buy night vision goggles?

Bug zappers...

[ackthpt]

...hundreds of them. Keep you occasionally illuminated and entertained at the same time.

Re:But why?

[NFN_NLN]

I have one hand on the leash, another on the flashlight, and then somehow manage to scoop the poop....especially in the rain while trying to balance an umbrella.

My floodlights are on motion sensor, however. It helps cut down on the obnoxiousness.

You should purchase my patent pending "pooper-scooper with a light" in one handy device. It has gun style mounts so you can change from light, to laser sighting, to scope... just in case the dog poops out of range.

Be coherent

[gmuslera]

Using a laser you will light exactly the point you need

all the maddest scientists have one...

[Thud457]

screw that noise, build a moonlight tower [wikipedia.org] and show Mother Nature who's BOSS!

Re:Sigh

[gerardrj]

Certainly not Rock and Roll

Re:let me translate that into slashdotese:

[AmiMoJo]

Ever since the appearance of the Fleshlight that word has been lost to me.

Re:But why?

[Anonymous Coward]

I seriously doubt that your wife found a headband flashlight to be a suitable replacement for the radio in her van. That's just dumb.

Re:let me translate that into slashdotese:

[bonehead]

You'd be surprised at how many people are completely oblivious to the concept of humor.

Re:LED safety glasses

[bonehead]

It would seem that your definition of "less dorky looking" is radically different form mine....

Re:Astronomy Guy Here

[ColdWetDog]

I try to keep the SWAT team out of my back yard. Their APCs mess up the lawn.

Re:But why?

[Sentrion]

And scatter some shotgun shells around the perimeter, just for effect.

Re:Small correction

[lxs]

The horror disgust and hilarity concerning "fanny packs" are very real, but they have nothing to do with the meaning of the word "fanny."