Smart Crawler

In 2022 there was a lot of news here in Chicago about the city’s "Smart Lighting" program, which involved updating street lights from high-pressure sodium to LED and adding some sensors/data-tracking to streamline maintenance. Or consider the White House Climate Office program to incentivize more efficient light bulb replacements.

Both entities are reporting that these programs will "cut emissions." From an environmental science, engineering, and economic standpoint, that is a ridiculous claim. Almost as ridiculous as this parent who thinks that a "smart" crawling machine will reduce their child's need for calories and will cut the family's food budget. Why?

a) A growing economy, just like a growing baby, needs more energy inputs over time. And any savings made in one sector will be used to meet pent-up demand in another sector. Probably Baby Skippy will use his saved crawling calories to bob his head around more. To cry and laugh more, and avoid going the f* to sleep. To grow his body and brain!

b) Just like so many "smart" projects we tend to ignore the environmental inputs to the cyber infrastructure on which they rely. Did this parent account for the increased internet and electricity bill that will come with their smart crawler? A huge blind-spot for environmental impact assessment that I have pointed out in my research: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac413b

I'm not saying these efficient lighting programs are bad for the city/our nation, what I'm saying is that the environmental claims being attached to it are false if not purposely deceitful.