Urban infrastructure and ecological studies highlight risks and solutions

In South Korea, government funding for replacing aging transformers in apartment complexes has decreased by nearly 50% over the last three years. Data shows that less than 10% of older apartment complexes nationwide have replaced their transformers since 2022. This decline in support increases the risk of power outages during heatwaves, as rising electricity demand from air conditioning can overload outdated equipment. Representative Seo Wang-jin has called for clearer safety standards and increased budgets to prevent large-scale blackouts.

Separately, research from Vanderbilt University indicates that urban lighting policies can help restore the natural biological rhythms of plants. By reducing light intensity and shifting to warmer color temperatures (lower blue light) in cities like New York and Washington, D.C., researchers observed that the timing of leaf growth and autumn foliage began to align more closely with natural seasonal patterns. The study suggests that urban lighting policies must consider light color, not just brightness, to mitigate ecological disruptions caused by light pollution.