Why Dark Sky Lighting? — Saving Our Stars

**Why Dark-Sky Lighting?**

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Why Dark Sky Lighting

**Why Dark-Sky Lighting?**

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Safety

_Dark-sky lighting still gives us light_ _but in a safer way while also greatly reducing the scope and distance__light pollution__travels_._It's the solution to light pollution!_

It reduces dangerous disability glarefor drivers and pedestrians (have you ever been blinded by a car with white headlights?)._Too much_ light (e specially if it's white)can make it harder to see and makes us less safe by creating harsh shadows and giving criminals a place to hide.Brighter does not mean safer.In England and Wales, an extensive studyanalyzing over 14 years of data from 62 authorities found little evidence of an increase in traffic accidents or crime after reduced lighting.

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Health

Darkness beneficially affects our circadian rhythm, which controls our hormones, sleep cycles and even our organs and immune systems. Blue light at night _(from white LEDs, smart phones, etc.)_, can possibly harm your health and contribute to insomnia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, etc (see Dark Sky Resources for tips). For good health, we need sunshine, but we also need exposure to darkness.

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Wildlife

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Rest

Nighttime is a time to rest. Amber dark-sky lighting utilizes colors that more closely resemble sunsets and candlelight rather than white colors that many find too bright and unpleasant at night--not to mention the possible disturbance to sleep! The town of Davis, CA put up a fightafter their streetlights were replaced with white LEDs,and they won!

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Planet

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Stars

Our Stars

What you'll notice most about light pollution is that it makes our stars disappear from view. Dark skies, places where you can truly see the awe-inspiring, ancient, sacred skies and stars our ancestors saw, are dwindling. This is due to rapidly growing light pollution and especially the current problem of blue-Rich White LEDs replacing older streetlights. Please contact your city/county officials to make sure these lights aren't coming to your streets..._before it's too late!_

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Hope

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What is Dark Sky Lighting?

What _is_ Dark-Sky Lighting?

· It's simply a way of lighting that helps keep the sky dark by **_fully shielding_****the light bulb on the top and sides** so the light is directed _down_ rather than to the sides and up to the sky, which creates glare, excess light and hides our stars. (Skip to 4:50 of "Losing the Dark," below, to see this demonstrated). See photo examples.

· It is **amber in color**instead of blue, green or white. _Amber LEDs are a better choice than warm white or low CCT white LEDS__. However, choose warm white or low CCT (2700 kelvin or less) over a higher kelvin white LED. Find amber LED sources__here._For further understanding, please see Dark-Sky Resources.

· It is **dimmed** and no brighter than necessary, is only used where or when needed, and often uses timers or motion detectors.

_This solution to light pollution began with__Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition__,when in the 1950s, they realized the necessity of protecting their dark skies, and they now have the darkest skies of probably any illuminated city you will find. They use mostly *__amber__* dark-sky lighting, and it's now__widely available__--people just need to know about it._

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_Thank you for reading! I appreciate you!As you can see, with amber dark-sky lighting, we all win! It's widely available and affordable. We don't have to settle for white LED streetlights and commercial lighting when there are_**_amber LEDs_**_that are affordable, efficient, and practical._**_We just need to stand together as a society (as we did with limiting cigarette smoking in public areas of the U.S.)_**_and let our towns know we want it!_

_Please take 2 minutes to watch the beautiful trailer of "__Saving the Dark__" by Sriram Murali, below, which perfectly states what I wish all people knew--that_**_we_****_*can* reclaim our night sky!_**_It will take all of us speaking up to our cities, asking for_**_amber dark-sky lighting_**_, and we must act fast, as new, even worse lighting,__white LEDs__, are currently being chosen._

_Here, you will find a variety of_**_sample letters_**_, and please see_**_How to Help_**_for the most powerful things you can do to help reduce light pollution. We can do it, but to win this battle, we must all work together!_

_Sarah_

_Saving Our Stars_

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_Disclaimer: The views about the nature of the universe expressed in this video do not necessarily reflect the views of Saving Our Stars._

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