-
Recent Posts
-
-
Categories
- Bathroom Lighting
- Casablanca Fan Company
- Ceiling Fans
- Chandelier
- Crystorama
- Dark Sky Lighting
- Emerson Fan Company
- Energy Star
- Everything Else
- Fine Art Lamps
- Giveaway
- Hinkley Lighting
- Hunter Fan Company
- Installation
- kitchen lighting
- LBL
- Leucos
- Light Bulbs
- Light Dimmers
- Lighting
- Lithonia Lighting
- Lutron Lighting
- Matthews Fan Company
- Minka-Aire
- Minka-Lavery
- Minka-Outdoor Lighting
- Murray Feiss
- Pendant
- Pendant Lighting
- Sale
- Tech Lighting
Archives
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- February 2009
- July 2008
- June 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
Category Archives: Dark Sky Lighting
Help Reduce Light Pollution with Dark Sky Lighting Fixtures
When was the last time you looked up in the night sky and saw twinkling stars blanket the sky? If you’re like most people then it has been awhile due to our increasing problem with light pollution and it is only getting worse. Excessive artificial lighting causes light pollution. Light pollution is any excessive amount of artificial light produced from a light fixture that creates: unnecessary night time sky glow, light in unwanted areas, glare to pedestrians, reduced visibility of the starry night’s sky, and wastes energy.
Polluting our night’s skies with artificial light negatively effects astronomers studying the night’s skies, global wildlife behavior and has even been linked to have a negative impact on human health. Our beautiful wildlife is getting confused by all of our unneeded artificial lighting. It is affecting mating, migrating, and predatory behaviors of many species. Baby sea turtles are crawling inland onto roadways confusing coastline lighting with the moonlight and never making it into the ocean where they belong.
The International Dark Sky Association, also known as IDA, is an organization that was formed in 1988 to create awareness and educate the public of importance of dark skies and 
the need to reduce light pollution. IDA developed the Fixture Seal of Approval (FSA) program that certifies dark sky friendly lighting. Approved FSA Dark Sky Lighting minimizes glare, reduces light trespass, and doesn’t pollute our night sky with unnecessary artificial light. Dark Sky light fixtures, like the Minka Lavery Outdoor 8282-61 exterior wall mount, are fully shielded and direct the light downward rather than upward where it would add to the other forms of light pollution.
FSA approved Dark Sky light fixtures are available in a several different fixture designs from post mounts to wall mounts. This way you can still illuminate and secure the outside of your home at night without contributing to our every growing light pollution problem.
As earth conscious individuals we can make a big difference by educating ourselves and others the importance of reducing our light pollution and how easy it can be. Some small steps that everyone can take to make a big difference in our light pollution problem is to light only when & where you need it at appropriate levels, use dark sky friendly light fixtures that offer shielded downward lighting, and use timers or sensors to shut off light when not needed. Let’s reduce light pollution together so we can enjoy the beauty of sparkling night skies again and the wildlife can return to nature where they are supposed to be.
Posted in Dark Sky Lighting, Lighting
2 Comments
Dark Sky Lighting Update
Our night sky’s are growing brighter as the days pass. The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) is an organization who’s main purpose is to educate and create awareness for the importance of dark skies and the reduction of Light Pollution. In the most recent IDA news letter they passed on some Dark Sky updates explaining Dark Sky concerns across the globe. So, I thought they were interesting enough to relay to our readers.
Turn Off the Lights
an article by Kang Chan-soo, South Korea, 23 January, 2009
In recent years, more and more lights have been turned on to create vibrant cityscapes. As we develop technology designed to shed light only where it’s necessary, we can reduce light pollution as we wish…
Dark Sky for Health
Light at Night May Boost Risk of Prostate Cancer
an article by Judy Siegel-Itzkovich, Jerusalem Post – Israel, 24 January, 2009
In the first stage of research, it was clearly found that there was a connection between artificial illumination and electricity consumption at night and prostate cancer…
Dark Sky Lighting to Reduce Energy Consumption
Lights May Go Out to Cut Power Bills
Leicester Mercury – Leicester, England, UK, 02 February, 2009
Every other street light in Leicester could be switched off and areas of the county plunged into darkness to tackle soaring electricity bills…
Street Lights to be Switched Off
by Reg Little, The Oxford Times – Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK, 29 January, 2009
About 300 street lights are to be switched off as part of a controversial county council plan to cut Oxfordshire’s carbon emissions
Street Light Switch-off Could Cut Bills in Half
Bath Chronicle – Bath, England, UK, 28 January, 2009
The issue was raised at a council cabinet meeting earlier this month and Cllr Shirley Steel (Con, Midsomer Norton) said the scheme could conserve energy by saving electricity as well as having financial benefits for the council…
Dark Sky and Light Pollution our only Night Sky Protection
Dark Sky Initiative Targets Light Pollution
by Alyssa Burnham, High River Times – High River, Alberta, Canada, 24 January, 2009
The Dark Skies initiative aims to mitigate light pollution within MD borders and minimize the adverse effects of lighting on the night sky…
I hope these Dark Sky articles help keep you up to date with the decline in our romantic dark starry nights.
Posted in Dark Sky Lighting
Leave a comment
Nationwide Lights Out for a Dark Sky
Lights Out America is a nationwide energy conservation event on March 29, 2008. On this night, they invite the entire nation to turn off all non-essential lighting for one hour. Participating cities: Atlanta, Boston, Boulder, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC.Show your support for starlight! Wherever in the world you are on October 20, 2007, join the citizens of San Francisco and Los Angeles when they turn off their nonessential lights for one hour – An event of Lights Out San Francisco and Lights Out Los Angeles, supported by IDA and many others.
Posted in Dark Sky Lighting
Leave a comment
1st Annual Southwest Night Sky Conference
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is an organization committed to educating the public about light pollution and any other light abuse to our dark sky’s. Read more about the IDA and dark sky organization.
The IDA is holding its first annual Southwest Night Sky Conference hosted by the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance at the Tacos Convention Center. The conference will be held September 13-15, 2007.
The IDA hopes that all who value the rich cultural heritage of the Southwest, who seek proven methods and resources for dark sky preservation, and who want to be inspired and expand their knowledge of the treasure we have in our pristine night sky will attend.
The conference will many special events and guest speakers. The most memorable will be the Welcoming Dessert Reception at El Monte Sagrado Resort, A “backyard Astronomy”, Expo at the Taos Convention Center, and a Tacos Pueblo Tour. For more information on the Southwest Night Sky Conference click here.
Posted in Dark Sky Lighting
Leave a comment