IDA Utah

The Utah Section of The International Dark-Sky Association

We are losing our heritage of starry nights. Artificial light in the night sky threatens to destroy the spectacular views the heavens offer. This "light pollution" wastes energy and provides no benefit to society.

Light Pollution is misused or misdirected light:
    Sky Glow.............is light wastefully escaping into the night sky and causing a glow over urban/suburban areas
    Glare....................is light shining dangerously out into peoples eyes as they walk or drive by.
    Light Trespass.....is unwanted light shining onto a neighbors property or into their house.

Light Pollution
    wastes billions of dollars annually in the United States
    wastes incredible amounts of valuable natural resources
    pollutes the air we breath through needless generation of electricity (most of which comes from fossil fuels)
    harms nocturnal wildlife
    harms humankind, being linked to some serious ailments
    destroys the views of the heavens that man has enjoyed since the beginning of time.

Light Pollution can be prevented
    Upgrade exterior lights to full cut-off fixtures and other dark-sky friendly products
    Reduce the wattage of bulbs used in all your fixtures
    Turn-off lights when you're not in the area
    Replace automatic timers with motion detectors
    Contact your local government officials
        Encourage them to create dark-sky-friendly outdoor lighting codes
        Demand that they strictly enforce their ordinances
    Contact IDA-Utah and help us get the word out!

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The largest selection of dark sky friendly lighting anywhere. Whatever your budget... whatever your lighting needs... you're sure to find it at Starry Night Lights!

Outdoor Lighting Design Criteria

While many think those that raise their voices in protest are fighting an emotional battle, the importance of eliminating light pollution is based on fact:

This is not beauty, it's a travesty. Taken by a DMSP satellite, this composite image shows the extent of the light pollution issue -- it's global!!

Here is another representation of the effects -- past, present, and future -- of poor lighting applications in the United States.

A Light Pollution presentation
Take a few minutes and look at this IDA slide show; it is very informative....

Some examples of Light Pollution
What would normally appear as an innocuous neighborhood during the day exhibits a serious problem at night: The Outdoor Home Lighting used in these examples is wasteful, destroys our views of the heavens and intrudes on the property of others.

Providence, RI Government Makes Bad Lighting Policy. The above image is Providence, Rhode Island's idea of beauty. Notice that the street is dark -- barely visible -- while the lights glare and the sky glows. Not a star is visible...one probably couldn't see the Full Moon, either....This is a fine example of really, REALLY bad government! Please go to their website and let them know what you think and how you feel about their plan to "Illuminate Providence".

Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council 2001 Annual Report -- Great work on Noise, Light Pollution, and Visual Pollution

A measurement
John E. Bortle has spent nearly 50 years observing the heavens, and his experience led him to create a 9-point scale rating the quality of the nighttime sky. His metric can better help you quantify the effects of light pollution on your neighborhood.

You can help!
Simply turn off exterior lights when they�re not needed. Or better yet, use motion detectors so your lights are only on when they�re needed. This can also enhance home security while saving money. Here are the basics of good lighting; consider these points when you light, and you'll be sure to have a responsible lighting solution.

Here is a lighting fixture comparison the will help you find the best solution to your, OUR, lighting problems! As if this weren't enough, here is an example of just how simple a light shield can be....it gives a new meaning to the term "light bucket".

Where can I get more info?
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a great place to get information on the effects of lighting on our night skies and ways to protect them.

Light Pollution Awareness Website -- Cliff Haas has done an incredible job educating the public about Light Pollution. His efforts have led to Connecticut State Legislation (HB-5449) creating controls for Light Pollution reform - it passed unanimously in both the House and Senate!

SELENE - Sensible Efficient Lighting to Enhance the Nighttime Environment -- lighting at night is a necessity, but it must be done in a wise manner: light only when necessary; use motion-sensors when possible; use full-cutoff designs to minimize glare, uplighting and trespass; and use appropriately-bright and energy-wise lamps in all cases.

Lighting Glare -- Here you'll find good information on lighting glare, it's causes, and ways to prevent it.

Our Lost Heritage -- Check-out Joe Bauman's article on Light Pollution in the Deseret News!

Summit County - Snyderville Basin Development Code -- This governmental work can definitely be interpreted as pro-Dark Sky; all that's needed now is adequate enforcement. Chapter 4.22 details the Lighting Regulations. Here's a quote from the introduction:

Starry Night Lights - The First & Only Night Sky Friendly Lighting Retailer.


Take a look at the previous image. This is a perfect example of Light Trespass. Light Trespass is unwanted light shining onto a neighbors property or into their house. How would you like to be in this kind of a situation? Perhaps you are. What right does one person have to subject another to such excessive lighting? You can see how much light is flooding into the rounded window. It essentially lights the whole top floor.	The preceding image is caused by light shining in through the window. The light originated about 75 yards away from a neighbors unshielded exterior lighting fixtures... very similar to the ones installed on the house below. In some neighborhoods... like mine... many homes have light shining in virtually every open window. So, on a hot summer night, people get to choose between dark sleeping conditions or a cooling summer breeze. Improper lighting ensures that you can't have both!

These "globe" lights might look pretty during the day, but they are horribly wasteful in real nighttime use. Notice that this streetlight illuminates the chimney of the top of the building behind it! As you might imagine, this type of light is quite glaring -- seriously REDUCING visibility and the aesthetics of the area.	If you think that's bad, get a load of this house in the same neighborhood. If you go around the house, you'll count no fewer than TEN 100 watt light bulbs... none of which are in fixtures that comply with county lighting codes. This home-owner even feels the need to light up their trees...year round!

Take a look at this light. It, and many others just like it, were installed on a home right here in the Park City area. This light is one of the most offensive light pollution devices in the area. It's glass top and glass sides provide no control for the light whatsoever. In other words, it allows light to shine in all directions. Up.. out.. and also down. Light fixtures like this waste roughly 75% of the energy they consume. Most of the light output from this fixture provides no value to its owner. That's 75 cents on every dollar... Or, 3/4 of all coal burned to power it's bulbs. 75% of all the emissions released into the atmosphere. All that waste... and no value to the happy homeowner. What in the world was the manufacturer thinking? What in the world was the builder thinking? What in the world were the county inspectors thinking? This light, which violates numerous aspects of the county lighting ordinance, received the approval of some county inspector.	Well.. look what happens when you actually turn on lights like this!!! Is this not a travesty? What is the point of all this light? Is there a surgery being performed in the yard in the middle of the night? Why would anybody need this much light in their yard??? Especially when nobody is outside? What is the point? Now, look closer at the picture. Most of the light produced by these fixtures goes up and out. Only a small fraction is actually put on the ground. It's actually dark under the fixtures!