Light Pollution and the IES IESNA/IDA Model Lighting Ordinance Part 1: The View of an Astronomer Dan Caton.

Light Pollution and Light Pollution and the IESthe IES

IESNA/IDA Model Lighting OrdinancePart 1: The View of an Astronomer

Dan Caton

What we will look at…What we will look at…

Why protect the sky?Why protect the sky? The light pollution issue—a brief The light pollution issue—a brief

primer on sky glow, glare and light primer on sky glow, glare and light trespasstrespass

The The needneed for design for design A brief history of the MLO (and why A brief history of the MLO (and why

I gave up on it…)I gave up on it…) Eric Gibson does the numbersEric Gibson does the numbers

Light: our shared Light: our shared interestinterest

What you do What I do

Another shared interestAnother shared interest

My Concern: ASU’s Dark Sky Observatory

100,000 hobbyists100,000 hobbyists

Everyman…Everyman…

Just as importantJust as important

Light Pollution and Light Pollution and the IESthe IES

Light Pollution: the loss of the night sky

The basic problem: Sky The basic problem: Sky GlowGlow

Light from fixtures Light from fixtures reflects off particles in reflects off particles in the sky—”Sky Glow.”the sky—”Sky Glow.”

Large cities visible from Large cities visible from tens of miles.tens of miles.

The stars are not The stars are not brighter in the country—brighter in the country—the the skysky is is darker!darker!

A worse problem here in A worse problem here in the east, due to higher the east, due to higher humidity levels than out humidity levels than out west.west.

Our Global ProblemOur Global Problem

Light “Made in the Light “Made in the USA”USA”

~ 1 G$ / year of wasted electricity

What’s Wrong With this What’s Wrong With this Picture?Picture?

Closer to homeCloser to home

You are here!

Boone ~ 40 years ago…Boone ~ 40 years ago…

… … todaytoday

Charlotte…Charlotte…

Courtesy Spencer Rackley

Light Pollution CausesLight Pollution Causes

Poor fixture designPoor fixture design Lack of shieldingLack of shielding Over-lightingOver-lighting Poor installationPoor installation Market pressureMarket pressure Let’s look at a few Let’s look at a few

specific problemsspecific problems

FloodlightsFloodlights Almost horizontalAlmost horizontal No shieldingNo shielding At night …At night …

Typical fast-food lightingTypical fast-food lighting

• Discomfort glare, bordering on disability glare

• Light trespass onto adjacent properties, roadway drivers

• Contributes to sky glow

Better: Full Cut OffBetter: Full Cut Off

Even Even Better!Better!

• Van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night,1888

• Experience at Tweetsie.

• Result from California study: reduce glare and you can reduce the overall lighting level

Roadway lighting-overhead Roadway lighting-overhead glareglare

Majority of the”light budget”? (Note: MLO does not cover)

Sag-Lens Cobra headsSag-Lens Cobra heads

Glaring to Glaring to driverdriver

Light Light pollutingpolluting

Better, FCO FixturesBetter, FCO Fixtures No light above No light above

horizonhorizon Non-glaring to Non-glaring to

drivers, too!drivers, too! May require more May require more

poles per mile—but poles per mile—but could we get the DOT could we get the DOT to to specifyspecify FCO? FCO?

Progress Energy uses Progress Energy uses on all new roadway on all new roadway nownow

And at night …And at night …

Car Sales LotsCar Sales Lots

Often grossly Often grossly overlitoverlit

This one at 60-This one at 60-110 Fc on lot, 65 110 Fc on lot, 65 on roadon road

CanCan be done be done nicely…nicely…

… … like this (Tampa)like this (Tampa)

Wall PacksWall Packs

One of the worst One of the worst fixtures for fixtures for pollution as well pollution as well as glare (or even as glare (or even for its intended for its intended purpose!)purpose!)

AreAre available in available in FCO FCO

What is the point What is the point of these? of these?

I will give you I will give you architecturearchitecture

Would be allowed under MLO…

Why shown in day?Why shown in day?

Ever notice?Ever notice?

Bad area/security lightingBad area/security lighting

Health concernsHealth concerns

Baby sea Baby sea turtles turtles attracted to attracted to street lightstreet light

Cancer and Cancer and melatonin melatonin production production in peoplein people

Solution: put a cap on itSolution: put a cap on it New GE SkyGard New GE SkyGard shown here. shown here. Hubbell, tooHubbell, too

Guaranteed to 100 Guaranteed to 100 mph, tested to 120mph, tested to 120

Why not the Why not the defaultdefault for new for new orders?orders?

Reduce lamp Reduce lamp wattage, with light wattage, with light savedsaved

Gas Station CanopiesGas Station Canopies

This about 85 fc – several times IES RP

Sports lightingSports lighting Often done poorly Often done poorly

with lots of light with lots of light pollution, light pollution, light trespass, and trespass, and glare (as baseball glare (as baseball fans know).fans know).

Can be done Can be done better as shown better as shown here, using here, using fixtures like fixtures like Musco’s shown Musco’s shown herehere

The Model Lighting The Model Lighting OrdinanceOrdinance Began evolution circa 2000? Existing IDA Lighting Began evolution circa 2000? Existing IDA Lighting

Code Handbook Code Handbook longlong and tedious. and tedious. Jim Benya’s paper at 2001 IDA Meeting, “A Proposal Jim Benya’s paper at 2001 IDA Meeting, “A Proposal

to Establish Inter-Organizational Standards for to Establish Inter-Organizational Standards for Outdoor Lighting. Let’s Do it!”Outdoor Lighting. Let’s Do it!”

MLO Working Group met at 2002 Tucson IDA Meeting MLO Working Group met at 2002 Tucson IDA Meeting and discussed basics, logistics. Hoped to roll out MLO and discussed basics, logistics. Hoped to roll out MLO 1.0 at Fall 2002 Boston IDA meeting. Members were 1.0 at Fall 2002 Boston IDA meeting. Members were common with IESNA Outdoor Lighting Committee, common with IESNA Outdoor Lighting Committee, chaired at that time by Nancy Clanton.chaired at that time by Nancy Clanton.

Draft version (2004.1) circulated, stirring Draft version (2004.1) circulated, stirring controversies about closeness to industry, watts vs. controversies about closeness to industry, watts vs. lumens, lumens per acre, etc.lumens, lumens per acre, etc.

MLO plods along today, cards held close. Based on MLO plods along today, cards held close. Based on lighting zones with different specifications for each.lighting zones with different specifications for each.

I have been less concerned since the MLO in any of its I have been less concerned since the MLO in any of its incarnations is too complicated for small communities incarnations is too complicated for small communities like Boone. Besides, I was tired of waiting for it!like Boone. Besides, I was tired of waiting for it!

Small Town Approach: Small Town Approach: BooneBoone Commercial only, at this point.Commercial only, at this point.

Go for light Go for light controlcontrol as the main theme (FCO required). as the main theme (FCO required). Floods allowed but must be shielded.Floods allowed but must be shielded. Gas station canopies must meet 35 fc limit within 7 Gas station canopies must meet 35 fc limit within 7

years. All other lighting grandfathered in but must be years. All other lighting grandfathered in but must be changed if renovated.changed if renovated.

Sports lighting must have light control package.Sports lighting must have light control package. Minimum/maximum table in footcandles (easy Minimum/maximum table in footcandles (easy

enforcement).enforcement). Lighting plan required, including a 10' x 10' illuminance Lighting plan required, including a 10' x 10' illuminance

grid (point-by-point) of maintained footcandles overlaid grid (point-by-point) of maintained footcandles overlaid on the site plan, which demonstrates compliance with on the site plan, which demonstrates compliance with lighting standards specified.lighting standards specified.

Effective 1/1/2006. We will see how it works.Effective 1/1/2006. We will see how it works. Admitted problem with this approach: designers face Admitted problem with this approach: designers face

different ordinances in different towns.different ordinances in different towns.

SummarizingSummarizing Light pollution almost always caused by Light pollution almost always caused by

luminaires and installation techniques that luminaires and installation techniques that do not do their task well.do not do their task well.

We can all work toward better lighting and We can all work toward better lighting and (thus) darker, starry skies.(thus) darker, starry skies.

Ordinances should cause lighting to be Ordinances should cause lighting to be designeddesigned which is good for all of us. which is good for all of us.

Thank you for your time and attention.Thank you for your time and attention. www.darksky.orgwww.darksky.org and and www.ncdarksky.orgwww.ncdarksky.org

[email protected]@caton.namewww.dan.caton.namewww.dan.caton.name