The Purpose and Essential Elements of an Effective Outdoor Lighting Ordinance

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The Purpose and Essential Elements of an
Effective Outdoor Lighting Ordinance
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Light Pollution

• Glare
• Energy Waste
• Transportation Hazard
• Environmental Impact

• Sky-glow
• Poor Lighting
• Light trespass
• Clutter / Confusion

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North America at Night
30 of all US outdoor lighting is directed
skyward, wasting 1,500,000,000 yearly, requiring
6,000,000 tons of coal each year.
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Virginias Outdoor Lighting Signature
Mountain Ranges
Chesapeake Bay watershed
Sky glow
Coastal Barrier Islands
Dismal Swamp
Forests Lakes Streams Plains
Virginias Public Scenic Areas Degraded by
Outdoor Light Pollution
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Elements of Light Pollution
Light Trespass Sky Glow Glare Environmental
impact
A city allowed to grow without a lighting plan
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Roadway Safety
Full cut-off fixture installed
Open face fixture
Glare seriously impairs drivers' ability to see
people walking and avoid hazards along the
roadway or within parking lots. Add rain or fog
to poor lighting and safety gets greatly reduced.

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Light Trespass

• Gas station with non-cut-off Metal Halide
  lighting
• Causes glare to motorists reducing visibility on
  roadway
• Light trespass to community - Home is across the
  street
• Measured light output under the canopy ranges
  from 45 foot-candles to a high of 80 foot candles.

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Environmental Problems of Light Pollution

• Light Pollution adversely impacts wildlife.
• Light trespasses into wildlife habitat and
  disturbs wildlife.
• Sea turtles and birds killed by light pollution.
• Mosquito activity increased by light pollution.
• Public scenic views of landscape and night sky
  degraded by outdoor lighting pollution.

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Wildlife Habitat Protection DIURNAL WILDLIFE
frogs
songbirds
waterfowl
dragonfly
squirrels

• Active by day, roost at night.
• Some species are rare, protected and endangered
  species.
• Some species provide human and ecological health
  benefits.
• Some species provide economic benefits.
• Light pollution disturbs wildlife behavior and
  their habitats.

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Nocturnal Wildlife
yellow crowned night heron
owls
gray tree frog
spotted seatrout
bats

• Active at night, roost by day.
• Some species species are rare, threatened and
  endangered species.
• Some species provide human and ecological health
  benefits.
• Some species provide economic benefits
• Light pollution disturbs wildlife behavior and
  their habitats.

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Waterways Lighting Problems

• PUBLIC ISSUE Army Corp of Engineers, State
  Environmental Agencies and local Wetlands Boards
  routinely issue permits that foster outdoor
  lighting problems
• Permits do not address lighting on piers and
  waterfront structures
• Non-target lighting trespassing into sensitive
  wetlands and shoreline wildlife habitats.
• Waterfront lighting magnified by water surface
  reflections.
• Mosquito nuisances increase where wetlands are
  exposed to light pollution.
• Boating safety compromised where urban
  waterfront properties lighting is excessive.
• USCG navigation markers rendered useless and
  boaters vision impaired in affected waterway
  areas.
• Adjacent waterfront properties subject to light
  trespass experience decrease in property values,
  increased insect nuisances, and increased
  security problems.

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What Are the Causes ofBad Lighting?

• Poorly Shielded Fixtures
• Misdirected Light
• Excessive Lighting
• Excessive Lighting Levels
• Excessive Contrast Ratios

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Types of Lighting

• Incandescent Common household fixture the
  light bulb
• Fluorescent Common internal signage lighting
• Quartz / Metal Halide Gas station auto store
  lighting
• Mercury Vapor Inefficient toxic, slowly being
  phased out
• High Pressure Sodium - Most common street light
• Low Pressure Sodium Most energy efficient

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Cobra Head vs. Full Cut-Off fixture
Full Cut-off Fixture
Cobra Head Fixture
This energy gets used more efficiently which
either increases illumination or allows lower
power requirements
Wasted energy
Desired illumination
Desired illumination
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The Full Cut-off Advantage

• Reduced glare improves visual acuity
• Reduced light trespass improves quality of life
• FCO fixtures cost the same as semi-cutoff
  fixtures
• Improved visual conditions for drivers and
  pedestrians
• Better control of illumination
• Lower wattage required for same illumination
• Significantly reduced skyglow

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Reducing Wasted Energy
Full-Cutoff
Semi-Cutoff
Glare and skyglow are signs of wasted energy that
provide no benefits. Glare reduces everyones
ability to see clearly and also causes eye
strain. Glare is very harmful for elderly
drivers, too. Glare causes safety problems that
shielded lighting can cure.
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Energy Savings
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Sports Lighting

• Full cut-off sports lighting system provides
• Light on the playing field, not the surrounding
  neighborhood.
• Improved comfort and quality of lighting on the
  field.
• More efficient lighting requires less power.

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Shielded Lighting
Glare wasted illumination of roof and trees
Glare greatly reduced better street illumination

• Shielded lighting improves visibility and
  enhances quality of life for homeowners
• Provides good value for the community
• Reduces light trespass onto other properties

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Physiology Glare

• The Eye Adjusts to the Brightest Object in the
  Field of View
• Glare Overwrites Images on the Retina and Reduces
  Visual Acuity
• Glare Diminishes the Eyes Dark Adaptation
• Glare Is Veiling Luminance That Hides Potential
  Roadway Hazards

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Contrast Ratios

• Overall contrast ratio is the ratio of
  illumination levels from the darkest to brightest
  areas
• A major component of glare
• Key aspect of visibility/ security lighting

Glare shields person both in brightest light and
directly standing under light pole in right view.
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What Can an Outdoor Lighting Ordinance Achieve?

• Improve Lighting Quality
• Improve Transportation (Auto, Boat, and Plane)
  Safety
• Protect Property Rights and Property Vales
• Eliminate Glare
• Reduce Light Trespass and Sky-Glow
• Increase Energy Efficiency/ Save
• Protect wildlife habitat

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To Improve Lighting Quality

• Require Fully Internally Shielded (FIS)
  Fixtures.
• Require That Fixtures Be Installed Correctly.
• No Light Above 90.
• Determine if lighting is required
• Set Maximum Permitted Illumination Levels.
• Establish Recommended Contrast Ratios.

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To Increase Energy Efficiency

• Require Fully Internally Shielded Fixtures
• Can Increase Efficiency by 50-80
• Reduction in Lamp Wattage Possible
• Set Maximum Permitted Lighting Levels
• Require Lighting Curfews During off Hours
• Encourage the Use of High Efficiency Lamps

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Keys to an Effective Outdoor Lighting Ordinance

• Comprehensive
• Fair
• Enforceable

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Nuts and Bolts

• Consult published standards for reference
• Define lighting environments/zones
• Establish fixtures installation standards
• Define measurement standards/methods
• Define total light output measurement standards
• Establish curfews during non-use hours
• Establish signage lighting standards
• Establish special use lighting standards
  (canopy, sports, display lots, etc.)

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Published Standards for Reference

• Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
  (IESNA)
• Publishes recommended practices for lighting
• IESNA Lighting Handbook
• White Paper on Outdoor Lighting Code
• Sports and Recreational Area Lighting
• Roadway Sign Lighting
• Building Lighting
• International Dark-Skies Association (IDA)
• Outdoor lighting code handbook

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Define Lighting Environments/Zones

• E4. Areas of high ambient lighting levels
• Urban commercial, business and industrial
  activity
• E3. Areas of medium ambient lighting levels
• Suburban residential areas
• E2. Areas of low ambient lighting levels
• Rural residential and agricultural areas
• E1. Areas with intrinsically dark landscapes
• Intrinsically dark landscapes designated for
  preservation

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Fixture Installation Standards

• Define technical terms
• Define measurement standards/methods
• Require fully internally shielded (FIS)
  fixtures in all new construction
• Restrict angled mounting of fixtures
• Establish when existing installations need to
  become compliant
• Grandfather provisions
• Modifications, additions and abandonment
• Sunset provisions

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Define Measurement Standards/Methods

• Lumens.
• Unit of luminous flux Used to measure the amount
  of light emitted by lamps.
• Foot-candles.
• One lumen per square foot at a distance of 1
  foot. US unit of luminance.
• Lumens per acre/square foot.
• Total amount of light emitted over a defined area.

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Define Total Light Output Measurement Standards

• Direct luminance measurement
• Requires inspector training and equipment
• Greatest potential for error/challenge
• Can only be done at night/ after installation
• Lumens per acre/square foot cap
• Done during permit/design stage
• Verification can be done during the day

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Direct Luminance Measurements

• Measurement process important for accuracy
• Calibration of equipment critical
• Orientation of light meter
• Light meter distance from ground
• Light meter distance from measurer
• Color of clothing

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Lumens Per Acre/ Square Foot

• Define cap - 10, 000 -300,000 initial lumens per
  acre
• ILPA will vary by environmental zone
• Determine site area from plat
• Determine total outdoor lighting output (TOLO)
• (1/2 acre) 100,000 ILPA 2 50,000 TOLO
• Multiply fixture output x number of fixtures
• Use manufacturer specs for fixture lumen output
• Verify actual installed lamp in each fixture
• Use lumens per sq. Ft. For special use
  installations
• Service station canopies

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Establish Lighting Curfews

• Linked to hours of operation
• Define non-use/security lighting requirements
• Define lighting (parking, signs, etc) to be
  included in curfew
• Curfew to commence one hour after closing to one
  hour before opening

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Establish Signage Lighting Standards

• Eliminate up-lighting of externally illuminated
  signs
• Require down-lighting

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Eliminate Globe Street Lighting

• Energy waste, glare, and poor illumination

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Establish Signage Standards

• Eliminate white backgrounds for internally
  illuminated signs

Bad
Better
Best
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Establish Special Use Lighting Standards

• Service station canopies
• Lumens per square foot
• Recreation facilities
• Establish operational hours
• Car display lots
• Ensure light trespass and glare
  reduced/eliminated
• Lasers
• Not allowed to be aimed above 90
• Searchlights
• Not allowed
• Exemptions
• Through permits and only temporary

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Special Use Lighting

• Potential for vast reductions in glare, sky glow
  and trespass
• High intensity and large potential obtrusive
  impacts (Sports Fields, Auto Display lots)
  require professional design and certification

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Wetlands Permitting Actions
RECOMMENDATIONS for Wetlands Regulatory Agencies
(Army Corps of Engineers, State Agencies and
Local Wetlands Boards)

• Issue pier and marina permits with light
  pollution environmental assessment and shielded
  lighting requirements.
• Ban mercury vapor, sodium vapor and halide
  lights on residential and public piers, marinas
  and other waterfront structures. Use properly
  placed hooded alternate low illumination lamps
  instead for decks, walkways and safety concern
  areas.
• No light trespass or water surface reflections
  into surrounding wildlife habitat and adjacent
  properties.
• Use lowly illuminated hazard warning (USCG
  yellow coded) lights on long piers and bridges to
  warn boater traffic of potential navigation
  hazard.
• Waterfront lighting glare and trespass must not
  interfere with clear visual access to USCG
  navigation markers at night.
• USGC navigation markers must be the most visible
  illuminated markers on urban waterways.

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Innovative Communities with Outdoor Lighting
Ordinances for Public and Environmental Benefit
Virginia Albemarle, Fauquier, Warren,
Chesterfield, Fairfax, Fauquier, Hanover, Prince
William, and Warren County have passed outdoor
lighting ordinances. Hilton Head Island, South
Carolina - Resort with lighting ordinances for
wildlife conservation and tourism. Requiring
light shields, placement and low height
requirements. Surrounding beach, maritime forest
and marsh habitats enhanced. Palm Beach County
and Sanibel Island, Florida Public outdoor
lighting ordinances for coastal wildlife
conservation and tourism. Beach and shore
habitats enhanced.
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Public Action Precedents in Wildlife Conservation
Involving Light Pollution

• US NATIONAL PARK SERVICE is responding to public
  concerns about light pollution and loss of night
  sky aesthetics. National Park Service
  retrofitting existing lights with full cut off
  optics (FCO). Public night sky aesthetics
  restoration seen as a wildlife benefit

• MIGRATORY BIRDS - mortalities from collusions
  with lighted buildings and towers has led to
  USFWS guidance on lighted towers.
• Use minimum number, minimum intensity, and
  minimum flashes per minute allowable by the FAA

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Save energy
Protect Property Rights
Improve Safety
Restore The Night Sky
Enhance Wildlife Habitat
Through Light Pollution Control
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Associations
Virginia Outdoor Lighting Taskforce
(VOLT) www.Volt.Org Promoting Safe and Efficient
Outdoor Lighting