Starlight, But Skies are Too right

(Page 2 of 2)

December/January 2001
 
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The Solutions

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Fortunately, about 75 percent of all light pollution can be eliminated by lighting fixtures and practices that already exist, such as full cut-off (FCO) fixtures, which keep light below the horizontal plane of the fixture. Better directed light means less energy consumed and better visibility.

State laws against light pollution have been passed in several states in recent months and are getting stronger. For instance, a Connecticut law requires new and replacement fixtures on all roads to be FCO. A new Vermont prison paid local businesses to reduce their own light pollution to offset what the facility would have to produce for safety, according to Environmental Building News.

An easy place to find out about your state, city or county's light pollution laws is www.darksky.org, the Web site of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). When you visit the site you can learn not only what light pollution is, but what you can do about it. Call (520) 293-3198 or write to IDA (3225 N. First Ave.; Tucson, AZ 85719) if you don't have easy Internet access.

Membership in the International DarkSky Association recently has been growing rapidly, but much more help is needed. Consider joining this vital organization to take back the night sky. This is a rare situation in which everyone can win.

-By Fred Schaaf

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