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[OL-Forum] Digest Number 1207
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There are 2 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Main Street retrofit
From: Susan Harder <lookout@hamptons...>
2. Re: UK fines "light polluters"
From: Jan Hollan <jhollan@amper....muni.cz>
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 06:40:33 -0500
From: Susan Harder <lookout@hamptons...>
Subject: Main Street retrofit
Press Release
December 7, 2004 East Hampton, NY
Montauk Main Street's Post Top street lights are retrofitted to a "dark
sky friendly" design.
Montauk, NY.
CONTACT: John Keeshan, Montauk, 631 668-2000
Susan Harder, Dark Sky Society, 631 329-0456
Anita Greene, Magniflood Manufacturers: 631
226-1000
Due to concerns about glare and "up" lighting, the Town of East
Hampton has just completed the retrofit installation of over 80 post top
"carriage style" street lamp fixtures. These fixtures are identical in
daytime appearance to those they replaced. However, at night, improved
optics produce more light on the ground and lessened glare, because the
light bulb is recessed into the opaque cap. The previous style, a
"traditional" post top, had the bulb in the center of the globe, which
produce glare and "up" light. The manufacturer of the original lights
(The Montauk Carriage Light), Magniflood of Long Island, produced the
new design to meet the Town's desire to see their star filled night sky,
clear of "light pollution" from fixtures which emitted too much light
above the fixture. This project was initiated by concerns about the
night sky, and facilitated by Alec Torkos, Magniflood's distributor at
Revco Electric in Southampton.
Among the positive comments from:
Long time Montauker: "It is a beautiful and subtle yet bright enough
illumination pattern that really works! BRAVO! Much better than the
previous light scatter from those fixtures." Harry Ellis
Former President of the Montauk Downtown Association (responsible for
the original installation): "I'm excited that the new lights not only
lessen glare and stray light, but provide more light where it is needed
most: on the walkways and the road, making it safer for drivers and
pedestrians alike". John Keeshan
Member of Montauk Citizens Advisory Committee: "EVERYONE loves the new
lights.... --Richard Kahn."
Dark Sky advocate: "Montauk is now safer from glare, more beautiful at
night, and our stars can shine through" Susan Harder.
Long Island light manufacturer: "We were delighted that we could help
the community of Montauk reach their goal of reduced glare and sky glow
with a new design." Anita and Ken Greene, Magniflood
Town electrician: "We also like the fixtures, they have made some
improvements that make it easier to work on and maintain."
Long Island Astronomer: "The astronomical community is thrilled that
Montauk is committed to restoring and protecting the pristine night sky
over the East End. Montauk can be an astro-tourism destination,
particularly during the long, clear and dark nights of the winter." Gary
Citro
Susan Harder
Dark Sky Society http://www.darkskysociety.org/
PS: An unintended consequence, is that the unshielded high intensity
lighting on adjacent properties is now more apparent. These lights will
be addressed in the new lighting code, which will "sunset" lights which
produce glare across property lines, into roadways, and into waterways.
________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 20:42:36 +0100 (CET)
From: Jan Hollan <jhollan@amper....muni.cz>
Subject: Re: UK fines "light polluters"
It does not fine them, but there is a hope that fines will become possible
as a tool. More importantly, light at should become acknowledged as a
problem, within Environmental Protection Act. Let's hope it will.
(further on, my message is almost the same as that sent to magnitude6 and
CfDS:)
I suspected there should be something on it in the CfDS list at yahoo and
so became a member a couple of hours ago. An interesting discussion to the
UK bill proceeds there.
Light is just a very small part of the bill, but an important one, which
devotes a lot of publicity.
The problem of the bill is a lot of premises-based exemptions, whereas
they should be applied to the signalling lights only.
(I my legal proposal
http://www.astro.cz/darksky/eu_law/lpNov04.htm
they are listed among exemptions to the basic lighting rules as:
c) (traffic lights)
are used as light signals for the purposes of ensuring transport
safety, defence and security of [EU, country, province,...].
)
the relevant URLs:
Parliament:
All info on the bill, including a non-hypertext pdf with full its text --
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmbills/011/2005011.pdf
-- is
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmbills/011/2005011.htm
the relevant part is
102 Statutory nuisance: lighting
on pages 74 to 76, or directly accessible within some html file as
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmbills/011/05011.70-76.html#j1701
and the page with explanatory notes to it is
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmbills/011/en/05011x-d.htm
(it begins just with the Clause 102 Statutory nuisance: lighting).
``CPRE'':
Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) :
http://www.cpre.org.uk/
its News release 8 Dec 2004:
http://www.cpre.org.uk/news-releases/news-rel-2004/77-04.htm
its basic info on the cause, Our campaign:
http://www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/landscape-and-beauty/light-pollution/index.htm
(in my view, the basic info should include a remark, that for most people
and most their time, glare is a larger hindrance for enjoying the stars
than the artificial contribution to the sky luminance; the bill could
help against glare at the first place, if it becomes an Act with not so
broad-band exemptions).
jenik
PS.
I cannot follow recent postings, not to speak about contributing to the
discussion, I'm sorry. Just reminding that most of the issues have been
solved long ago withing Dr. Cinzano's papers available on the net. I know
they are sometimes not easy to read; it's science. Technology is to be
based on science, if it has to be good.
Another recent info is within the message
New version of Save the Sky
URL: http://amper.ped.muni.cz/jenik/letters/public/msg00142.html
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