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Briaht Days Dark <br />Re. ula+in Light <br />By D~vid L. Cmwford' <br /> <br />bishts: <br /> <br />The consequences of uncontrolled growth range from air pollution to the destruction of <br />scenic views-issues to consider for citizens, environmentalists, and city planners alike <br />Who care about the quality of life in modern America. <br /> <br />The ni~h~ view of previous generations has <br />virtually disappeared for city dwellers t. oday. <br />Urban children gaze upon We Milky Way <br />in planetariums. Unfortunately, popuiation <br />g'rowth and urban sprawl now threaten the <br />skies of rural America with ,~he same fate-- <br />even areas around remote astronomy obser- <br />vatories. White zoning is a round-the.dock <br />protector, land-use acdvity tends to be over- <br />looked more easily at night. This issue of <br />Zoning Practice acknowledges the importance <br />of exterior lighting, defines different ~pes of <br />light pollution, and discusses me provisions <br />necessa¢t [o carw out a communibt's ii§bring <br />objectives. The article concludes with a <br />model !ich[in§ ordinance. <br /> Nighttime generates unique nuisances, <br />some of which reia[e to poor-quality lighting, <br /> <br />which can be highly visible--even from long <br />distances. The obtrusive effects of ni§ht <br />lighting are a major issue for residents in <br />communities eye,where because excessive <br />amounts of it cause light pollution. Without <br />such a nuisance, night vision would be ~reatty <br />improved, as would safeO/and security of <br />both people and prooertv. <br /> <br /> Light pollution has adverse effects on <br />both flora and fauna, many of which are active <br />at ~'wilight and after dark. Humans have <br />a strong circadian rhythm that when altered <br />sJa'nificantly can result in adverse health <br />impacts (see "Final Report, L/ghdng and Humdn <br />Hedlth," Report No.~oo937o, Electric Power <br />Research Institute, Pale AKo, Ealif., ~-ooA.). In <br />short, people need bright days and dark <br />nights. <br /> <br />LIGHT POLLUTION DEFINED <br /> <br />Light pollution is d§ht with no "useful" ,3ur- <br />pose--wasted energy, ineMcient light sources <br />such as incandescent or mercu¢/vapor lamps <br />cause energy waste. Conservative estimates <br />by the International Oark-Sky Association (IDA) <br />show that light waste costs Americans at least <br />Sz billion annually. An outdoor lighting ordi- <br />nance can minimize, or even eliminate, lig'ht <br />pollution, {nctuding §(are, light trespass, visual <br />clutter and confusion, and artificial sky glow. <br /> 6'late: Intense and blinding [(ght that <br />causes discomfort and a reduction in one's <br />abilib/to see. Glare never adds value and <br />is common to alt locales, Unfortunately, too <br />often people mistake the absYnce of glare <br />for lack of light, Glare is neither wanted nor <br />needed for any nighttime activity, <br /> <br />,fir ~.~N NG ..... (. ..... 07.08 <br /> <br /> <br />