User controlled streetlights. Three towns in Germany — Raden, Schwelentrup-Doerntrup and Lemgo — turn off their streetlights at 11pm to save energy. However, any resident can turn the lights for a street back on for 15 minutes using a mobile phone. Prices vary from simply the cost of the call to 40 pence for 15 minutes, to 5 pounds for 2 hours. Lemgo has experimented with the scheme for the past year and realised £40,000 in savings with the’Dial4Light’ project; none of the 3 towns has experienced an increase in traffic accidents.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1077929/Germany-pilots-eco-friendly-streetlights-switch-phone-request.html