San Jose: Study and report on low-pressure sodium lighting, 1980

City of San Jose

Department of Public Works

San Jose, CA 95110

A door-to-door survey of 500 persons in both commercial and residential areas was conducted under contract to the city of San Jose by Public Response Associates of San Francisco.  The following is an excerpt of this report concerning the results of the study.

2. Public Opinion Survey

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Basically, the opinion survey showed that both City residents and business proprietors in areas where lights were converted to either low- or high-pressure sodium do not object to the conversion.  When told of the resulting energy cost savings, Citizen response to the conversion became even more favorable for both LPS and HPS.

Citizens were asked a variety of questions in personal door-to-door questionnaires.  The questions covered such items such as acceptability of color of light, feelings of safety with the new lighting, and amount of light on the street and around the home or business.  In response to all questions, San Jose citizens expressed no significant objection to either type of sodium lighting.

Following is an excerpt of the two major conclusions derived by Public Response Associates and is included as written in their final report summary:

1. Respondent acceptance of the new streetlights in their neighborhoods was analyzed by the type of lighting that had been introduced into each area.  There was no significant difference in the overall acceptance of the new lights either between the commercial and residential areas or between the type of lights installed.  Half or more of the people in each group rated the new streetlights as acceptable.

PERCENT RATING LIGHTS AS ACCEPTABLE

Commercial Area, Low-Pressure Sodium = 61%

Commercial Area, High-Pressure Sodium = 50%

Residential Area, Low-Pressure Sodium = 55%

Residential Area, High-Pressure Sodium = 57%

People who live in areas where low-pressure sodium lights have been installed were statistically more likely to evaluate the new lights as being unacceptable. This group, however, consisted of less than one third (30%) of the people living in the low-pressure area.

2. After respondents rated the acceptability of the new lights, the following statement was read to them: The new San Jose streetlights will cost the city approximately 50% less than the old streetlights and will use approximately 50% less energy than was used by the old lights.  Respondents were then asked to indicate, while keeping these facts in mind, how they felt about the new lights.

When the new lights were considered as a cost and energy conservation measure, there was a significant increase in acceptability rating for the new lights, particularly among business people, and a corresponding decrease in the proportion of people who rated the new lights as unacceptable.

PERCENT RATING LIGHT AS ACCEPTABLE

(After Energy Statement)

Commercial Area, Low-Pressure Sodium = 83%

Commercial Area, High-Pressure Sodium = 87%

Residential Area, Low-Pressure Sodium = 68%

Residential Area, High-Pressure Sodium = 75%