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Outdoor Lighting and The Night Sky
Updates from International Dark Skies Association On April 6, 1999, the governor of New Mexico signed The Night Sky Protection Act. This achievement was the result of years of outstanding work that involved the cooperative efforts of many people. This legislation mandates that all outdoor lighting meet new standards. The problems of light trespass, glare, energy waste, and light pollution are addressed through the use of shielding and lighting levels. HB916: Regulation of Outdoor Lighting for State Funded Entities, was signed by Governor George W. Bush on June 19, 1999. Introduced in the State Affairs Committee with bi-partisan support, it passed the committee unanimously. Later, it passed the House floor and was then sent by the Texas Senate as HB916 to the Governor on May 26. This is a first step in promoting quality outdoor lighting in Texas. NPCA Report Decries "Vanishing Night Skies" The following is excerpted from the report "Vanishing Night Skies," issued by the National Parks and Conservation Association, based in Washington, D.C., March 1999. The NPCA is composed of 400,000 members dedicated to protecting our national parks. "Seeing the awesome grandeur of a star-filled night sky is a wondrous
experience for national park visitors "Thus, many visitors are unexpectedly astounded and captivated when they view the night sky from within our national parks. Like clean air and water, wildlife, or the sounds of nature, a clear, dark night sky is an intrinsic part of the national park experience that must be protected for present and future generations." "And just like the air and water, the skies over our national parks are increasingly threatened. Unfortunately, the stars visible from our national parks are becoming increasingly difficult to see. The biggest culprit in this quiet crisis is light pollution, which is most often caused by excessive or misdirected outdoor lighting. Light pollution from highways, homes, office buildings, and other developments can affect national parks that are more than 100 miles away. While some remote parks are insulated from the effects of light pollution, many are not." Associated Press on Light Pollution In early June, the AP distributed a wire release to hundreds of newspapers and radio stations around the globe. This report about the adverse effects of light pollution generated front-page coverage in several key newspapers. In addition, the issue was carried on ABC radio programs, and the International Dark Skies Association was featured by the Osgood Files on CBS. In other news, CNN and ABC updated their web sites with this story! IDA is making great progress in educating the public about the seriousness of light pollution.
Dr. Philip Ianna, Professor of Astronomy at The University of Virginia, believes that just as pastoral daytime views are restful and restorative, the natural beauty of a dark starry sky is important to many Virginians. In a statement which he submitted to the Visual Quality Committee of the ACIR at its October meeting, Dr. Ianna expressed the concerns of many Virginians who are alarmed by the increase in intrusive, excessive outdoor lighting throughout the state. In his statement, Dr. Ianna notes that while outdoor lighting is the sole determiner of visual quality in the nighttime built environment, lighting is rarely regulated in Virginia. The result is that increasingly we are confronted by glare from poorly shielded roadway lighting, overly bright commercial areas, and growing levels of light trespass. Obtrusive lighting has resulted in several localities, Albemarle, Warren and Hanover Counties among them, recently adopting light pollution ordinances. Other counties such as Fauquier, Loudoun and Fairfax are considering such laws. Appropriate lighting can, says Dr. Ianna, emphasize the unique character of particular elements in a community and set the mood for how we feel about particular spaces. "Thoughtfully designed and well controlled outdoor lighting is a benefit to us all. It can attract people to urban areas at night, making them more inviting, enjoyable, and safe. It can reduce energy costs. It will help preserve dark skies for us and future generations." Dr. Ianna is an active member of the International Dark-Sky Association. He may be reached for information or comment at pai@virginia.edu Information on the International Dark-Sky Association may be obtained from any of the following:
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