You
Can Help
Restore
And
Protect
The Nighttime
Environment
A Guide for Students, Families & Businesses
Select Outdoor Lights So They:
1) Are Cost
Effective – The cost of lighting is not only the cost of the initial
fixture and installation but also the annual operating cost (the electricity!).
For example, the five-year operating cost of a Quartz floodlight may be over
$400, while a comparable fluorescent floodlight is just over $100.
2) Minimize Glare
& Excessive Brightness – Glare occurs when you can see light rays
directly from the fixture or bulb. It can hamper the vision of drivers,
pedestrians and cyclists, which creates a safety hazard. The human eye
can take over 10 minutes at night to adjust to normal conditions after being
exposed to an excessively bright area, such as a gas station canopy.
3) Eliminate Light
Trespass – Light that travels outward (horizontal) leaves your property
and shines somewhere else. This can be very annoying and offensive to neighbors
often many blocks away. All lighting should be directed downward by using
fixtures with “full cut off” shields. The light source should not be
visible from about 20 feet.
4) Eliminate Sky
Glow – Light fixtures that allow light to travel outward and/or upward
create Sky Glow. This is very harmful to night sky viewing (amateur,
professional and casual observers of stars and planets). It is also
harmful to migrating birds and many other animals
5) Reduce Air
Pollution – Electricity to light up the night increases the amount of
pollutants put into the air. Turn on outdoor lights only when needed
and consider using motion sensors properly aimed and adjusted to turn them
on and off.
Things Families Can Do
· Review your home or living area for GOOD
outdoor lighting. Use the “Better Lights for Dark Nights” brochure as a
guide. Look at your house from the outside at night, or better yet, from
your neighbor’s point of view. Be sure all fixtures have full cut off
shields and do not emit light horizontally or upward to the sky. Only
turn on Outdoor Lights when needed.
· Survey your neighborhood for Good and Bad
outdoor lights. Tell neighbors who have Good lights how much they are
appreciated. If there is a bright outdoor light that gives off a lot of
Glare or Sky Glow (light shining upwards or outwards), talk to the owner
politely (children should always be accompanied by an adult) to see if they are
aware of it and if they would be willing to do something about it. Give them a “Better Lights for Dark Night” brochure as a
guide. If they are not willing to do anything, thank them for their
time.
· Come to one of our “Better Lights for Your
Nights” meetings and help with one of our projects or offer to start a new
one. Gain knowledge about Outdoor Lighting issues and meet some of the
people who are actively working to reduce light pollution.
· Speak at
neighborhood meetings on the importance of Good Outdoor Lighting and hand out
information brochures. Talk about Good lights and Bad lights and explain
the difference.
· Join the Astronomy Club of Augusta. We serve the CSRA, GA, SC, and are members of the International Dark-Sky Association
(IDA).
Things Students Can Do
· Prepare a talk for classmates about light pollution or
the importance of Dark Skies.
· Design a class project that everyone can be a part of
about Light Pollution or Dark Skies.
· Choose Light Pollution or some topic related to Dark
Skies as a subject for a science fair project.
· Make a “Light Pollution Catcher” game and play with a
friend. The game can be downloaded from www.sa-ida.org
· Talk to your teacher about having a person from The Astronomy Club of Augusta to come to your class to talk about light
pollution.
· Initiate a project at your school to review and correct
any poor or bad outdoor lighting on your school grounds.
· Come
to one of our “Better Lights for Dark Nights” meetings and help with one of our
projects or offer to start a new one.
· Join the Astronomy Club of Augusta. We serve the CSRA, GA, SC, and are members of the International Dark-Sky Association
(IDA).
Things a Business/Group Can Do
· Review your business properties to see
if they have any Poor outdoor lighting and see if you can make
improvements. Hand out Good outdoor lighting educational materials in
your stores.
· Invite the Astronomy Club of Augusta and
Better Lights for Dark Nights’ to your business clubs as guest speakers.
· At the start of any business meeting or
council or board meeting, give a brief introduction about Dark Skies (hand out
a Fact Sheet) stating the importance of doing something to help maintain
them.
· Scout Leaders or other groups, Contact
Better Lights for Your Nights to see what materials are available for
discussion for your particular age group. Create a community project or
merit badge to help reduce Light Pollution in your area.
· Join the Astronomy Club of Augusta. We serve the CSRA, GA, SC, and are members of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).
· Make a Tax-Deductible Donation.
IDA is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization,
which means your donations are tax-deductible. Donations can be earmarked for
specific projects or Sections like the Astronomy Club of Augusta.
We need funds to print brochures, give awards, and other educational
activities.
This guide was prepared by the Better Lights for Dark Nights committee to help students, families and businesses with ideas
for things they can do to help preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting.
The only Pollution that costs more to Perpetuate than to
Eliminate!
Good Outdoor Lighting Will:
·
Save energy and reduce air pollution from power generating plants.
The
·
Make a Safer and more Secure night time
environment.
Glare and harsh
lighting creates shadows and causes poor visibility.
·
Preserve dark skies necessary for astronomers
and allow the casual
observer to enjoy starry skies from their backyard.
·
Minimize harm to trees, plants, insects and animals
by not disrupting
their seasonal cycles and habitat with artificial light.
·
Enhance the natural beauty of our cities and neighborhoods.
presented by:
Astronomy Club of
https://www.angelfire.com/ga/astronomyclubaugusta
serves the CSRA, Georgia, South Carolina
https://www.angelfire.com/ga/astronomyclubaugusta/darkskies.html
3225 N.
