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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-18-18 Public Comment - B. Fowler - Light PollutionFrom: Chris Mehl To: Agenda Subject: FW: [SENDER UNVERIFIED]Tackle light pollution and protect the night Date: Sunday, March 18, 2018 9:02:38 PM Chris Mehl Bozeman Deputy Mayor cmehl@bozeman.net 406.581.4992 ________________________________________ From: Beverly Fowler (beverly@meetingspace.com) Sent You a Personal Message [automail@knowwho.com] Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2018 5:08 PM To: Chris Mehl Subject: [SENDER UNVERIFIED]Tackle light pollution and protect the night Dear Mr. Chris Mehl, Most people in the United States live under light-polluted night skies due to wasteful and inappropriate artificial lighting. Light pollution wastes energy and money, and it impacts the wellbeing of people and wildlife. Many wildlife species, such as plants, birds and insects, are adversely affected by artificial light at night. And light pollution robs our kids of the wonder of starry nights. Light pollution is caused primarily by emitting light upwards or sideways, using inadequately shielded lights, and over-lighting. The color of light is also important and blue-rich white lighting has the greatest negative impact. I care deeply about this issue, and as your constituent, I urge you to make a commitment to help our city lead by example by taking bold steps that tackle light pollution and protect our nights. I ask you to: - Provide visionary leadership by encouraging sustainable, community and eco-friendly artificial lighting practices that conserve energy, save money, cut down carbon emissions, prevent discomfort/ disability glare, improve visibility and safety, protect biodiversity, promote healthier communities, and preserve the beauty of the night sky. - Educate our residents during Earth Hour (8:30-9:30 pm on March 24) and International Dark Sky Week (April 15- 21) to increase awareness about light pollution and solutions, and to motivate all stakeholders, including residents, businesses, utilities, and transportation agencies, to play their part. - Support educational city programs and administrative policy goals that help implement sustainable lighting practices in a just and equitable way using recommendations by the International Dark-Sky Association, the American Medical Association, the National Park Service and world-respected light pollution experts. These practices include: - Lighting only areas where light is really needed. - Not over-lighting - using only the minimum light levels needed. - Using fully-shielded outdoor light fixtures that direct light downwards to the ground, not upwards or sideways. - Using amber or warm-toned light, with the least blue, especially in and near residential areas, parks and natural areas; specifying low correlated color temperatures (CCT) to protect the environment and to reduce risks to human health (e.g. CCT of 2200K is preferred over 4000K). - Using timers, motion sensors and adaptive smart lighting controls that dim or turn lights off after hours. - Replacing unshielded decorative lighting, such as acorn lights, that create excessive glare, waste energy and endanger public safety. - Encouraging energy efficient lighting that reduces light pollution and does not negatively affect people and wildlife. - Avoiding indoor lighting that spills light outdoors at night, especially in empty office buildings. - Minimizing exceptions that allow unshielded, overly bright or upward lighting. Let's make our city a leader in protecting the night for generations to come. Need more info? Check these references to learn more: - International Dark-Sky Association, www.darksky.org - NPS Night Skies, www.nps.gov/subjects/nightskies - Human and Environmental Effects of LED Community Lighting, 2016, American Medical Association, CSAPH Report 2-A-16 Sincerely, Mrs. Beverly Fowler 183 Nostalgia Lane Bozeman , MT 59715 beverly@meetingspace.com (508) 735-0262 This message was sent by KnowWho, as a service provider only, on behalf of the individual noted in the sender information.