by Bernadell Larson,
HCMG |
DARK SKIES
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Ever want to sit outside
in your garden and gaze
at the stars, the Milky
Way and other galaxies,
watch shooting stars, or
satellites on the
horizon? |
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People are losing the
option because we are
losing the darkness in
our night sky. The
problem is more
pronounced in urban
areas, but as more of us
baby boomers are moving
to the rural areas we
are seeing light
pollution in the rural
areas also. Artificial
lighting does not
necessarily produce
light pollution. Light
pollution is the term
for artificial light
that is excessive or
intrudes where it is not
wanted. |
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On July 13th and 14th,
the International Dark
Sky Association met with
representatives of the
U.S. House of
Representatives and the
U.S. Senate to conduct
informational briefings.
These sessions were
intended as a general
introduction to the
problems caused by light
pollution and what can
be done to reduce wasted
outdoor lighting.
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Energy is wasted when
light spills up to the
universe, is used when
not needed, or if the
light uses more wattage
than needed. Wasted
light is wasted energy;
it has been estimated
that over one billion
dollars per year are
wasted lighting up the
night sky instead of
directing the light
downward only where it
is needed. In addition,
safety and security are
compromised when glaring
light causes dark
shadows and our eyes do
not accommodate to the
background darkness.
Glare is blinding and
objects become
invisible. Just drive
past a bright gas
station at night and you
will see how too much
light actually blinds
drivers and makes
driving unsafe. |
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What are some solutions
to Light Pollution? |
1. Use lights only when
and where necessary.
2. Shield or
recess the bulbs so no
glare is visible.
According to the
National Park Service,
50% of
light from a typical
unshielded fixture is
wasted, shining upward
where it is not needed.
Another 10% in the mid
range just causes glare,
and only 40% is
productive because that
portion of the light
shines downward.
3. Aim fixtures
downward so no light
spills upward or leaves
your property. A good
rule of thumb is to
purchase and install
outdoor lighting where
the bulb is completely
shielded. Draw a
horizontal line equal to
the very bottom of the
fixture. If all the
light shines downward
from that line, the
fixture is a Dark Sky
approved fixture.
4. Use low
wattage,
energy-efficient bulbs
that do not over-light
an area compared to the
background lighting.
High and low pressure
sodium bulbs, and the
newer LED lights are
energy efficient. They
use little energy, but
provide lots of light
where you need it.
5. Turn off the
lights when not needed. |
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When I first moved to
Kerr County, I had the
privilege of talking
with a rancher and she
told me she did not use
outdoor lighting. If you
needed to walk outside
at night, give yourself
a minute and your eyes
would adjust. If you
were still
uncomfortable, she kept
a flashlight by the door
and she would walk you
to your car. |
A couple of articles
that will provide more
information on the
subject are:
Our Vanishing Night
in the November 2008
issue of National
Geographic
Switch on the Night –
Policies for Smarter
Lighting at
Environmental Health
Perspectives
The Aspen Recreation
Center in Aspen,
Colorado,
won the 2004 IDA |
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Photo courtesy of IDA |
