Why do we tolerate bad lighting?

Written and researched by Marc Sandberg, Dark Sky Georgia

What is Light Pollution1) Glare – Obtrusive and inappropriately applied

outdoor lighting generates glare. Glare is any light that is in your direct vision (why do most indoor lights have shades on them?).

2) Light Trespass – Light from a neighbor, business or roadway that spills onto your property, without your consent.

3) Energy Waste – Light shining outward and upward into the sky is wasted. This waste is estimated at costing Six Billion Dollars annually.

4) Environment – Lights at night confuse and harm animals and birds, and distresses trees.

5) Urban Sky Glow – This is what you see when you look at a city from a distance, a dome of light covering a large area of the sky and blocking your view of the stars.

Who We Are

• International Dark-Sky Organization – more than 11,000 members worldwide

• Dark Sky Georgia – local section of the IDA, more than 50 members

Dedicated to stopping the adverse effects of LP, raising awareness of the problem of LP and educating the public about LP

The Villains

Growing pot in the living room?

Drive Thru Operating Room?

Acorn in the trees?

What are the problem indicators?Sky GlowFacts:• Does your night sky look like the photo on the left or the

photo on the right?

• Skyglow is not an indication of progress. It only indicates poor administration.

Night of Blackout – 60 second exposure Night after Blackout – 30 second exposure

Glare on Streets

Street Lights – Use Full Cutoff

Light TrespassFacts: The problem of trespass occurs in nearly

every community!

• Lighting only provides benefits to society when the light is controlled and the source of illumination is discrete.

What is occurring nationwide?

• General Electric now sells more FCO luminaires for streetlights than non-FCO’s

• Hundreds of local municipalities and counties have adopted some form of Dark Sky ordinances

• Greenhouse gasses are becoming front page news

What has been done locally?

• Several Georgia counties have adopted a Dark Sky Ordinance (Fulton, Cherokee) with more on the way

• Example of Poor Lighting – new Acorn Luminaires in Chastain Park

• Examples of Good Lighting – – Atlantic Station, all FCO’s– Sandy Springs Business District, all FCO’s

Where does Georgia Power fit into this?

• Vendor of majority of outdoor luminaires

• Currently viewed as an outdoor lighting expert

• Currently taking steps to be perceived as a “green” company (e.g., compact fluorescent bulbs)

• Currently viewed as a major polluter

Challenges

• Public - Baby Boomers are aging, making Glare a major concern, more infill properties means increased light trespass

• Press – skeptical of GP’s environmental record, construction of new plants

• Local Governments – starting to pay attention to greenhouse gasses and economics (including power bills)

• Environmental Groups – becoming aware of impact of LP on trees, mammals, and insects

Opportunity for Georgia Power

• Become an advocate of appropriate outdoor luminaires (offer only cutoff luminaires)

• Start replacing broken and worn out luminaires with FCO

• Stop selling and discourage use of Acorns• Advise consumers on good outdoor

practices– Long Island Power Authority does all of this

Result if Georgia Power becomes a leader in the fight against Light Pollution• Georgia Power manages the situation, not

the reverse• Georgia Power becomes known as

environmentally sensitive to Light Pollution• Creates evidence of actions taken to reduce

demand, when applying for new plants• Over time, less glare, trespass, and sky

glow due to elimination of bad luminaires

Next Steps?

• Convincing management of value in becoming leader in fight

• Presentations to more senior group

• Help with consumer materials

• Expertise in LP issues