IDA Lighting Awards Announced

[RLGent1@aol...]

Memorandum for all IDA sections, affiliates and board,

The following press release was sent to 1,500+ science writers by the 
American Astronomical Society press officer.  Please feel free to send copies 
of this to your local media and/or publish it to websites or newsletters.

Regards, 

 Bob Gent, Member IDA Board of Directors and 
 Chair, Sections Working Group 
 International Dark-Sky Association
        www.darksky.org 
 Protecting the nighttime environment and preserving 
 our heritage of dark-skies through quality outdoor lighting 


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKY ASSOCIATION
MARCH 22, 2003

Press Contacts:

Bob Gent, IDA
RLGent1@aol...

Dan Brocious, IDA
(520) 670-5706
International Dark-Sky Association
Tucson Arizona, USA

International Lighting Awards Announced 

The 2003 International Dark-Sky Association lighting awards were announced 
today in Tucson, Arizona, USA.    Quality lighting awards were given for 
lighting that controlled glare, used appropriate lighting levels, was energy 
efficient, minimized obtrusive light, displayed a good nighttime ambiance, 
and had minimal impact on artificial sky glow.  

Fully shielded lighting puts light where it's needed and minimizes glare and 
energy waste.  Today's award winners used shielding and design techniques to 
achieve the best quality outdoor lighting.  

The first place winner for 2003 was Ironwood Ridge High School in the 
Amphitheater District Schools of Tucson, Arizona.  The award will be 
presented to Chris Monrad, president of Monrad Engineering, Inc. on Saturday, 

March 22, at the banquet.  The judges stated, "This installation embodies all 

of the important criteria of a good exterior lighting project.  It also 
includes excellent design, and the nighttime appearance is very attractive."  



The first runner up was the Gentilini Ford Dealership in Woodbine, New 
Jersey, USA.  This exterior lighting installation was designed by Stanker and 

Galletto Company in Vineland, NJ.   According to the judges, "This 
installation shows responsible lighting in an otherwise 'light competitive' 
environment.  The controls and design were excellent, and the installation 
sets an example for car dealerships in the entire region."  

An international lighting award was given to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 
exceptional energy conservation.  40,000 Calgary streetlights are being 
converted to fully shielded to reduce glare and energy waste.  The city is 
reducing power consumption from 200 to 100 watts each, eventually saving 2 
million dollars per year in energy costs. 

Another quality lighting award was given to the Hungarian National Railways.  

In total, 16,000 lights will be replaced with fully shielded fixtures with 
wattages reduced by nearly 50 percent.  This outstanding design controls sky 
glow, reduces glare, and conserves energy.   Mr. Tamas Deri in Budapest, 
Hungary, was the project manager for this award winning design. 

The Charter One Bank in Albany, New York, USA was recognized for superior 
lighting design.   This installation provided a safe and secure facility 
meeting the requirements of a very challenging NY state law for ATM lighting. 

According to the judges, "This bank sets an example for how to design 
exterior lighting at banks all across the state."  Glare and light trespass 
are controlled providing a pleasing nighttime ambiance.  This quality design 
was accomplished by Naomi Miller Lighting Design in Troy, New York, USA.  

The Tucson, Arizona EL Con Shopping Mall was recognized for outstanding 
lighting design.   Additionally, the Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home in 
Darlington, South Carolina received recognition for using fully shielded 
parking lot lighting.  

IDA is holding its 15th annual conference where physicians, engineers, 
national park staff, astronomers, government officials, and many others will 
gather in Tucson, Arizona, March 20-23, to discuss their shared interest in 
the nighttime environment and its affect on human activity.  Speakers will 
address many more dark sky topics such as night vision, protection of 
observatory environments, outdoor lighting codes, lighting fixtures and 
energy savings.

More detailed information about the meeting, the meeting program, and the 
meeting registration form can be found on the IDA website at www.darksky.org. 

  Photos of the winning designs are available on this website. 

                             --- END ---

Members of the working press (representing bona fide news media) and 
freelance science writers will be admitted upon presenting their credentials 
at the meeting registration desks.  (Credentials include: a press card, 
business card, or letter of introduction from an editor of the publication, a 

current membership card from NASW, a regional affiliate of NASW, CSWA, SEJ, 
or ISWA, or evidence of bylined work pertaining to science intended for the 
general public and published in 2001--2003.)

March 20-23, 2003     Holiday Inn, 4550 S. Palo Verde Blvd., Tucson, Arizona, 

USA