PA Light Pollution Map

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OUTDOOR LIGHTING ISSUES FOR MUNICIPALITIES,
LAND TRUSTS, BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS
Presented by The Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting
Council PA Section of the International Dark-Sky
Association
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• Topics
• AN OUTDOOR-LIGHTING ORIENTATION
• THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD LIGHTING
• HOW TO PLAN, GET AND ENFORCE AN EFFECTIVE
  LIGHTING ORDINANCE

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Lighting TrendsLight pollution and billions of
dollars of wasted energy
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Lighting Trends LA Basin 100 Years Ago
From Mt. Wilson Observatory. 1-Hour Exposure
1908
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Lighting Trends LA Basin Now
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Lighting Trends in PA
York
Pittsburgh
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Lighting TrendsTypical Suburban Sky Glow
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The World at Night
The US in 2025?
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GOOD LIGHTING

• Good lighting starts with
• Providing the right amount of light
• Using fixtures that place the light where needed,
  e.g., on the pavement
• Using fixtures that shield the light source
  (bulb) from view
• Having lights on only when needed

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WHAT IS GOOD LIGHTING?
Good lighting typically means using
fully-shielded fixtures so that no upward
light is emitted and the bulb is not visible at
normal viewing angles.
Here are some examples
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SHIELDING EXAMPLES
Residential
Fully Shielded
Unshielded
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COMMERCIAL EXAMPLES
UNSHIELDED FIXTURES
FULLY SHIELDED SHOEBOX FIXTURES
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WALLPACK EXAMPLES Unshielded, they can ruin an
otherwise perfect job.
Unshielded
Fully Shielded
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STREET LIGHTING EXAMPLES
FULLY SHIELDED Flat Lens
UNSHIELDED Sag Lens
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PERIOD LIGHTING
Shielded
Unshielded
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PERIOD LIGHTING Unshielded Acorns
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SPORTS LIGHTING
Good but Always a Problem
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Barn Light
BARN LIGHTS BAD LIGHTINGS POSTER CHILD
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UNCONTROLLED GLARE Intended to light the parking
lot, this barn light, mounted at 20, lights
all the way up beyond the 30 roof line.
Barn light costs about 130/year to operate
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FLOODLIGHTS
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(No Transcript)
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SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS
INTERNALLY LIGHTED SIGNS
LED SIGNS
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GOOD LANDSCAPE LIGHTING
Shielded, Low Voltage, Low Wattage and solar
Solar LED
Low Voltage
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CASE OF A BAD ORDINANCE BOWLING ALLY PARKING LOT
1000-WATT FLOODLIGHTS ON ALL NIGHT 3,000 IN
ENERGY COST WASTED A YEAR 15 TONS OF COAL OR 55
BARRELS OF OIL
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Light Pollution Viewed By Neighbor
Bowling Ally Lighting as Viewed from Neighbors
Window
Neighbors Bedroom Back Wall
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• PREDICAMENT
• Neighbors have disrupted sleep, health concerns
• Ordinance enforcement ineffective
• Owner uncooperative
• SOLUTION
• Township creates new lighting ordinance
• Owner applies to expand operation
• New lighting, 400-watt fully-shielded fixtures
  aimed down and turned off after hours.

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NEW PARKING LOT LIGHTING
BEFORE 1000-WATT FLOODLIGHTS
AFTER 400-WATT FULLY-SHIELDED
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VIEW FROM NEIGHBORS BEDROOM
BEFORE
AFTER
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NEIGHBORS WALL
AFTER
BEFORE
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BOTTOM LINE

• Ow ner saves 3,000/year in power costs
• 15 tons of coal or 55 barrels of oil saved
• Environment happier
• Municipality happier
• Neighbors happier

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• SUMMARY
• Lighting doesnt have to be bad lighting
• Good lighting starts with the right amount of
  light where its needed from the right kind of
  fixtures that are on only when needed.

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• WHATS NEXT
• Goals of good lighting
• Lighting myths
• Negative lighting impacts
• Promoting quality lighting
• Lighting terminology
• Legal implications