[Vision2020] Outdoor lights

Mon Jan 31 17:22:24 PST 2005

Jeff, Janice, Mark,

When I was involved in a permit process in Boundary County about 5 years 
ago, I did a lot of research on certain health and mental well-being aspects 
of night illumination impacts.  I will try to find that material, time 
permitting.  Janice and Mark raise some very good points about the 
importance of trying to reduce unnecessary, sometimes nuisance night 
illumination.

As science progresses in this matter, we have more facts on which to base 
decisions.

We have three or four neighbors in our area (out of 50 - 70 homes) whose 
continuous, bright night lights are an aggravation and a very annoying 
distraction for most of their neighbors.  There are ways to deal with this 
in a zoning ordinance -- subdistricts, for example.  People do not live in 
the country for it to be continuously illuminated at night like a city.
It should at least be discussed.  Your motion detection lights are a 
solution used by many.

Wayne

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Harkins" <jeffh at moscow.com>
To: "Fiat Lux" <fiat_lx at yahoo.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 2:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Outdoor lights

> Great post Fiat:
>
> I too use the motion detector system - a perfect solution for my wife and 
> I - it is not clear that that would pass mustard with the ordinance - it 
> requires photo sensitive.
>
> Looks like a perfect opportunity to "enlighten" lots of folks on the 
> issue.  When informed about light and all its elements, folks can make 
> rational choices about what light they need.  I am confident most would 
> opt for the "best" solution for their needs.  Thanks for getting that 
> thread started.
>
> And it is certainly a process of education.  One poster noted that the use 
> of the Energy Saving Soft White Light Bulb is so much better than the 
> incandescent bulb.  But of course, the Energy Saving bulb is an 
> incandescent bulb - it simply uses a different filament material.
>
> On the Sylvania line of bulbs, here is their recommendation for choosing a 
> light bulb:
>
> "To save energy costs, find the bulbs with the light output you need, then 
> choose the one with the lowest watts"
>
> Another point noted on a box of GE Miser Floodlights (their energy saving 
> line of products) is:
>
> "The Miser Floodlight has a shape designed to gather stray light that 
> standard floodlights waste and redirect that light back into the useable 
> beam"
>
> Of interest again, this is an incandescent light.
>
> Finally, GE includes this tip on the energy saving issue:
>
> "For greater energy savings use GE Halogen Floodlights"
>
> Of course, horse owners and other barn keepers know that halogen lights 
> are a no-no for barn use because of the heat they generate.
>
> Finally, glad we got some discussion going - and your post helps.
>
> At 01:14 PM 1/31/2005, you wrote:
>
>>Visionaries,
>>
>>This is an important issue.  I appreciate the
>>discussion of it here.  I will submit my thoughts
>>also, not because they are particularly enlightening,
>>but because they are mine.
>>
>>Mr. Harkins comments:
>>"I have every confidence that the rural resident is
>>fully able to determine for themselves their light
>>needs - and will pay for their choices."
>>
>>Ms. Willard observes:
>>"Big mercury vapor lights are the norm."
>>
>>I contend, therein lies the problem.  This is where
>>the rest of us end up "paying for" other people's
>>lighting choices.
>>
>>Who among us does not value the natural wonders of the
>>night sky?  My goodness, have you ever been to
>>Seattle?  A person is lucky to be able to spot the big
>>dipper in the "dark" city sky.   And you can forget
>>about marveling at the aurora borealis, because it is
>>obscured by the "city lights" that shine upward and
>>outward in addition to downward.   Nobody wants this
>>to be the case in Latah county.
>>
>>In Moscow at night, take a drive along the Moscow
>>Pullman highway past the mall, Best Western and
>>Tri-State.  Notice the lighting along the highway.
>>Then take a look at the lighting over on campus, at
>>the rec-center parking lot, for instance.  See the
>>difference?   From a distance, it can clearly be seen
>>that the area below the fixture is well lit, yet the
>>light does not travel horizontally or upward.  The
>>flat bottomed, non-protruding, non-bulbous fixtures
>>provide adequate illumination of the immediate area,
>>though they are much more considerate of those nearby
>>not requiring the lighting.
>>
>>One of the things I love most about rural living is
>>that out here at night, it is DARK.  I too have horses
>>that I check on or tend to after dark.   Earlier this
>>winter one of my horses did colic (not to disappoint
>>Murphy) on a frigid and blustery Sunday night.  But I
>>got through it all with adequate lighting provided for
>>solely by motion sensitive, floodlight type fixtures.
>>As long as I was out with my horse, I had all the
>>light I needed for my task.
>>
>>I have chosen to steer clear of the mercury vapor
>>light scenario at my farm.  My night-time lighting
>>system is set up so that if nothing is moving outside,
>>no light is on.  Simple as that.  When I walk out my
>>door, on comes the light.  As I walk to my barn or
>>shop, another light comes on.  After a period of
>>minutes with no additional motion in the area, the
>>lights turn off.   I even have a light that will
>>illuminate the area around the chicken coop should a
>>predator visit in the night.   If the lights were
>>always on outside at night, I wouldn't be as
>>immediately alerted at the presence of an "intruder"
>>as when I notice the motion sensor light has been
>>tripped on.
>>
>>Though I completely support every individual's right
>>to choose the kind of lighting that best suits his or
>>her particular purposes, I also believe controlling
>>the horizontal and upward travel of light from outside
>>fixtures merits our attention.  I will take the
>>liberty of likening dusk 'til dawn mercury vapor
>>lights, to sidestream cigarette smoke.  Beyond simply
>>satisfying the particular need of the user, the
>>product reaches out and touches far more than just one
>>person, homestead, species, etc.  If those types of
>>light fixtures are an absolute must, then let's make
>>thoughtful fixture design choices (throughout the
>>county, not just in the municipalities) that contain
>>the light and direct it only downward.  This will help
>>to mitigate the real effects of light pollution.  We
>>will all remain able to marvel at the wonders of the
>>night sky, unlike the poor folks in Seattle.
>>
>>Yours truly,
>>Fiat Lux
>>
>>P.S. I just saw Mr. Seman's post on this issue.  This
>>discussion benefits from his understanding of design
>>issues as he clarifies:
>>"Whether rural or urban the idea is to shield the
>>source of any light fixture (it's the filament that
>>does not need to be visible from off-site.)  One can
>>still have illumination and security without glare.
>>Most people do not understand lighting design and
>>generally it is not done very well...if it shines, it
>>works.  There are better ways to consider artificial
>>light that include intensity, glare, color,
>>efficiency, safety, reflection, and other
>>characteristics of illumination."
>>
>>
>>
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