THE BASICS OF GOOD LIGHTING

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL

• All light emitting from a fixture should be directed downward.
• Floodlighting and spotlighting should be accurately aimed away from roadways and adjacent property.
• Lighting should be shielded so that glare is not visible from adjacent property or from the street or highway.

MODERATION OF INTENSITY

• Lower lighting levels provide better vision and require less re-adaptation of the eyes.
• Excessively bright light spills onto other property and can cause glare even when shielded.
• Maximum brightness levels should be established and not exceeded.

ENCOURAGE ALTERNATIVES TO GLARING, EXCESSIVE LIGHTING

• Motion detector-activated lighting uses less energy and provides better security than constant light.
• Encourage low level lighting which works better with closed circuit television.
• Encourage alarms and other security measurers -- more successful than constant lighting.

LIGHT TRESPASS

• Light should not spill onto other's property unless they want it too.
• Fixture design, placement, moderation of intensity, and aim can help provide needed control from light trespass.

SIGNS INCLUDING BILLBOARDS

• Signs should only be lighted internally or from lights mounted on top pointed downward.
• Billboards should not remained lighted overnight.
• n-premise signs should not stay lighted late or overnight after a business closes.
• Dark colored signs with light letters reflect less light than dark letters on light signs.
• Lights that flash, pulse, rotate, move, or simulate motion can annoy and distract.

ALL-NIGHT LIGHTING

• Only lighting intended for security should be on all night if the business is closed.

ROADWAY GLARE

• No light should be installed such that it produces excessive glare or excessive brightness that interferes with the vision of drivers and pedestrians.

A FEW EXCEPTIONS

• Sports lighting should be allowed more brightness for the playing field, but directed downward and not allowed to spill into other property.
• Christmas lighting, porch lighting, and landscape lighting are usually low intensity lighting not a problem unless it creates dangerous glare or nuisance.

courtesy ICOLE - Indiana Council on Outdoor Lighting Education