Light Pollution

Sky Glow Waste of light IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Sky Glow Nocturnal animals disrupted by the abnormal night lighting ▫Sea turtles IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Sky Glow Some studies suggest human health is negatively affected ▫Disrupted circadian rhythms IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Negative Impact on Wildlife Animals and plants live by a rhythm based on a 24 hour cycle Interferes with migration, mating, foraging for food, and sleep IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Sky Glow Loss of starry skies

Spillover Light falling where not intended or needed ▫Light trespass IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Glare High levels of glare can decrease visibility IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Security concern Glare

Inefficiency Cost of useless light IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Lighting VOLT: the force that moves electricity ▫Like water pressure 240 volts for heavy appliances

Lighting 120 volts for house voltage

Lighting 12 volts is low voltage and safe

Lighting CURRENT or AMPERAGE: the flow of electricity ▫Like water flow

Lighting Watts are a measure of POWER ▫Volts x Current = Watts

Lighting Lumen is a measure of light ▫As perceived by the human eye

Cost of Lighting 12v, 10w halogen: 200 lumens 12v, 1w LED: 50 lumens

Types of Lamps ▫Incandescent ▫Fluorescent ▫Light Emitting Diode (LED) IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Incandescent Heat a tiny coil of tungsten metal inside a glass bulb to produce light ▫90% heat ▫10% light Short lives IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Fluorescent Electric current conducted through tube of mercury and argon gases ▫No filament 3x to 4x more efficient than incandescent 10x longer life IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Fluorescent Require energy boost from ballast, or starter, to initially move arc across tube

Fluorescent The moving electrons collide with mercury atoms in the tubes to make ultraviolet light ▫Require appropriate disposal ▫

IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Fluorescent

LED Light emitting diodes Don't have filament IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

LED Light emitting diodes Illuminated by movement of electrons in semiconductor material IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

LED Drivers regulate power to bulb Often built into the fixture (like fluorescent ballasts) IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Efficiency Comparison Incandescent: 10 lumens / watt Fluorescent: 40 lumens / watt LED: 90 lumens / watt Energy efficient IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Light Pollution Solutions Minimize interim light use with timers and motion detectors IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Light Pollution Solutions Shine lights down, not up IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Fixtures that are fully shielded ▫IDA Fixture Seal of Approval program Light Pollution Solutions IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Shielded Luminaires IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

How shielded lighting reduces glare The image below is a test site for fully shielded street lights. To the right; the same lights shown in comparison to the un- shielded existing lights. IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Fully shielded lighting at an airport IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

International Dark Sky Initiative Lighting that is exempt from these regulations: Lighting in swimming pools and other water features governed by Article 680 of the National Electrical Code. Exit signs and other illumination required by building codes. Lighting for stairs and ramps, as required by the building code. Signs are regulated by the sign code, but all sign lighting is recommended to be fully shielded. Holiday and temporary lighting (less than thirty days use in any one year). Football, baseball, and softball field lighting; only with permit from the authority recognizing that steps have been taken to minimize glare and light trespass, and utilize sensible curfews. Low voltage landscape lighting, but such lighting should be shielded in such a way as to eliminate glare and light trespass

IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness

Cost of Lighting Cost estimator Kilowatt-hour (kWh) ▫1000 watts used for an hour ▫About $0.12 per kWh Running a 1000-watt appliance for 1 hour ▫1 kWh

Cost of Lighting SCE&G ▫$0.115 kWh Pond pump (340 watts) 0.33 kWh in an hour 0.33 x = $0.038 per hour 24 hours x = $0.91 per day 30 days x 0.91 = $27.32

Cost of Lighting Small pond pump 0.01 kWh in 2 hours kWh per hour x $0.115 = $ per hour X 24 hours = 0.014

Cost of Lighting Landscape lights, 130W 0.13 kWh per hour 130W x $0.115 = $ W x 4 hours a night = $ W x 30 days = $1.80 a month

Cost of Lighting Christmas lights, 100W ▫(1 strand) kHw per hour 100W x = $ W x 10 strands = $ W x 6 hours = $0.24 a night 100W x 30 days = $7.20 a month

Cost of Lighting Refrigerator, 1.37 kWh per 16.5 hours kWh per hour $.0095 per hour $0.23 per day $6.87 per month

Cost of Lighting Computer station at home 1.81 kWh / 15 hours

keforest/ keforest/ IDA in Partnership with NOAO, NSF and IYA Dark Skies Awareness