New Suburbs Rekindle Old Flame

"Gaslights, which once graced the boulevards of Paris and the streets of New York but disappeared by the middle of the last century, are becoming more popular in suburban subdivisions, high-end resort communities and downtown renewal projects all over the United States. They are being promoted by an odd mix — preservationists, architects and energy executives — as a design detail that can soften the mood of a place and make it significantly more inviting. And consumers seem to be buying it.

The renewed interest in gas lamps is keeping manufacturers busy...Power companies across the country have been taking notice of the gas lamp boom, and recognizing in it an opportunity to increase profits...Web sites and salespeople list the advantages of gaslights: they are safe, relatively cheap and attract fewer insects than electric lights. If there is a power outage, gas continues to flow."

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan