Dark Sky Laws - More Than Just Aesthetics
February 4th, 2008 by admin
Dark Sky laws are intended to reduce the glare and light pollution that can arise from typical suburban lightscaping. These laws address the aesthetic concerns associated with poor lighting practices, but light pollution is an environmental issue as well.
Glow, Glare and Trespass
Around the country, communities are adopting local ordinances requiring homeowners to install downward lighting on the exterior of their homes. Dark Sky ordinances are, according to the Tucson, Arizona based International Dark Sky Association (IDA), intended to “preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting.”
Grouped into three categories, light pollution is defined as follows:
- Sky Glow: wasted light escaping into the night sky and causing a glow over populated areas.
- Glare: dangerous light shining into the eyes of pedestrians or motorists.
- Light Trespass: unwanted light shining onto neighboring properties or homes.
An Environmental Problem
In addition to concerns about waste, safety and aesthetics, Dark Sky laws benefit the environment in ways less obvious.
Poorly directed light wastes energy. It’s estimated that 30% of all the electricity generated to power exterior lights is wasted. That’s billions of dollars. And all that wasted energy uses staggering amounts of natural resources.
Light pollution causes air pollution. For every kilowatt hour of electricity used, almost two pounds of carbon dioxide and almost two grams of sulfur dioxide (responsible for acid rain) are emitted into the environment. For no reason.
Possible health hazards from over exposure to artificial light include light-related hormone imbalances, immune system disorders and insomnia.
For wildlife, the situation is even worse. Sea turtle hatchlings crawl inland towards overlit beachfront properties, becoming easy prey to predators. Snakes, salamanders and frogs forage only after dark but in some brightly lit areas, night never comes. Artificial light effects the mating behaviors of tree frogs, the navigation systems of birds and the defensive behaviors of insects.
Slow Changes
According to the IDA, an estimated 1,000 cities and towns in the U.S. have enacted some form of Dark Sky ordinance. But as the population grows and cities get bigger, the problem of light pollution is getting worse, not better.
So why haven’t more communities adopted Dark Sky laws? Lack of awareness is generally the biggest problem. Few people realize the drastic changes to our night skies since the changes have been gradual. But rapid urbanization has left our skies so bright that half of all Americans can’t see the Milky Way from their homes.
Additionally, a lack of clear guidelines and a confusing array of local standards has left many communities leary of pursuing any specific policies.
Safety issues often come up often when Dark Sky ordinances are discussed, although a landmark Justice Department study concluded years ago that street lighting has no effect on crime. And the blinding glare caused by some fixtures can reduce visibility and increase risk for pedestrians and drivers alike.
Finally, suitable Dark Sky compliant fixtures have been hard to find. Fortunately, many small companies are beginning to produce and sell high quality, compliant fixtures that shine towards the ground only, decreasing intensity without sacrificing safety.
Awareness and Education
People rarely think of light pollution as a top environmental worry, but it does have an impact beyond the obvious aesthetic concerns. Increasing awareness of the problem and the availability of solutions will encourage communities to adopt sensible, workable Dark Sky laws that maintain safety, increase quality of life and save money and resources.
Moira Clune is the co-owner of T.M. Hoff Handmade. Her company designs and markets award winning garden decor and home accessories. She has over 15 years of experience in the wholesale and retail industry. Visit her site at http://www.tmhoff.com for the latest in garden and home decor.
Tags: dark sky laws, dark sky lighting, dark sky ordinances, light pollution
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