[Lvas] FW: IDA e-News: Night Watch, Issue 3

[roger ivester]

All,

 

Please read. If you are not a member of the IDA it is certainly something you might want to consider. 

 

There are only a very small percentage of amateur astronomers that belong to this great organization. They have been instrumental in the course of proper lighting throughout the USA, and other countries also.

 

roger

 

 


Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:39:04 -0400
From: ida at darksky.org
To: drivester at hotmail.com
Subject: IDA e-News: Night Watch, Issue 3















International Dark-Sky Association

Night Watch

08 July 2009 - Vol. 1, Issue 3




















David Dunlap Observatory Update



The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre, operates the 74-inch reflecting telescope and is about to begin providing public education and outreach programs.  

The first public viewing nights at the observatory will be held on July 18 and July 25, 2009.

Read more >>






Upcoming Workshop on Light and Health





Lighting, Architecture, and Human Health Workshop

and the Symposium on the Photobiology of Human Circadian, Neuroendocrine, and Neurobehavioral Effects

9 & 10 July
Thomas Jefferson University







Energy Edge




White House announces new lighting standards
by Liz Sidoti, San Francisco Chronicle - San Francisco, CA, USA, 29 June 2009
The administration says 7 percent of all energy consumed in the U.S. is for lighting, and the new standards, which will take effect in 2012, will cover fluorescent and incandescent lamps and lighting equipment in households and commercial buildings.


IDA circulated a statement of official recommendations to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee as its members evaluated the energy bill, and will continue to advocate for dark sky friendly technology when the bill is reviewed by the U.S. Senate. Read IDA's statement on energy efficiency >>

 



IDA in the News 


Let there be dark
by Christopher Tuffley,  News-Sun - Sebring, FL, USA, 03 July 2009
Now, however, some are questioning whether cities are safer and individuals healthier in the bright world that technology has created. Organizations like the International Dark-Sky Association collect data, while city and county commissions debate ramifications.

 
Some state agencies are making adjustments. Chester Henson, the Florida Department of Transportation's safety engineer, said in a telephone interview that the state began changing out roadway lights 25 years ago looking for energy savings and long-lasting bulbs.

"We're trying to kick down light pollution," Henson said...


Dark Sky Slovenia in the News

Thanks largely to the efforts of Dark Sky Slovenia, a story about energy consumption and light pollution appeared on the front page of an important Slovene newspaper on 07 July. Slovenia is one of the first countries to pass a national light pollution ordinance, and the dedicated individuals in that region continue to make remarkable progress toward protection of the natural night. 

Za javno razsvetljavo na prebivalca porabimo dvakrat več elektrike kot Nemci
by Blaz Mazi, Dnevnik - Ljubljana, Slovenija, 07 July 2009
Slovenija je v samem vrhu evropskih drzav po porabi električne energije za javno razsvetljavo - Svetilke postopoma nadomesčajo z ustreznejsimi, a njihovo stevilo ni omejeno...









MLO Update 


The MLO: A reminder and an update
The Focal Point, Philips Lumec, 23 June 2009

On April 10th, the public review period of the MLO (Model Lighting Ordinance) ended. Contributions and suggestions are in and the IDA (International Dark-Sky Association) and the IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) Committee's responses are planned for August 1st, 2009.

To quote Denis Lavoie, Task Force co-chairman, on the complexity of the project. "Like many communities who have written their own ordinances, we thought it would be easy but in fact, the MLO has taken much longer than we thought it would. We worked through some challenging issues related to sky glow and glare in order to have a process that has technical credibility. The result is an ordinance that provides the flexibility for an installation to be judged based on the lighting equipment used or the characteristics of light emitted from a site."

In other words, the MLO is a way to define, through internationally recognized standards, a level of contribution to the elimination of issues that cause light pollution....





Dark Sky Updates



 
Ferrisburgh board holds development hearing
by Dorothy Pellett, Burlington FreePress.com - Burlington, VT, USA, 03 July 2009
About 90 people turned out Wednesday for a Ferrisburgh Zoning Board hearing on Champlain Oil Co.'s application for a permit to build a convenience store/fast food restaurant, gas station and diesel-fueling island on a site bordering U.S. 7 south of the village center. Residents said they were concerned about the aesthetics and possible light pollution of the proposal...

Lubbock concerned about light pollution
by Adam D. Young, LubbockOnline.com - Lubbock, TX, USA, 27 June 2009
The amount of measurable light pollution in Lubbock already is comparable to that produced by Tucson, Ariz., a metro area that with more than 1 million people has about four times the population of Lubbock, Heisey said.
The reason for the difference in light pollution output, according to Heisey and the International Dark Sky Association, a Tucson-based non-profit organization that advocates reducing light pollution, is the city's differing ordinances regulating light pollution...

Gloucestershire leads the way on street light savings
by Emma Tilley Wilts, Gloucestershire Standard - Malmesbury, England, UK, 25 June 2009
The "invest to save" scheme, where street lights are dimmed or switched off for part of the night, is being held up as an example of how UK councils can reduce their carbon footprint. 
Gloucestershire County Council estimates it will save ?210,000 a year and cut emissions by 28 percent...

Residents rally for dark skies, against pool
by Cara Loriz, Shelter Island Reporter - Shelter Island, NY, USA, 25 June 2009
Island residents came to Town Hall to advocate for preserving the Island's starry skies and for protecting groundwater resources in Montclair during two different public hearings on Friday. Comments on a new town law intended to discourage nighttime light pollution were generally supportive...

North Smithfield looks to reclaim its starry sky
by Ethan Shorey, Valley Breeze - Cumberland, RI, USA, 25 June 2009
With an eye toward recapturing some of the magic of urbanized America's once-bright skies - not just pieces of Orion's belt or a portion of the Big Dipper's handle - town officials are moving forward with a plan to cut the use of streetlights at all but North Smithfield's village intersections. In the process they're hoping to save thousands of dollars in precious tax dollars...

Today's Question: Should Columbia replace and/or remove street lights in order to reduce its budget?
by Furqaan Sadiq, Columbia Missourian - Columbia, MO, USA, 24 June 2009
"No evidence could be found to support the hypothesis that improved street lighting reduces reported crime," the study states.
The proposal has caused concern among council members, police officers and citizens because of the public safety issue that is involved in removing street lights.  Third Ward Councilman Karl Skala, however, said that contrary to popular belief, strategically dimming street lights to allow for less glare and shadows will increase public safety along with decreasing electric costs...



Wildlife Watch


Imperiled California seabird advances toward Endangered Species Act protection: August deadline set for listing decision for Ashy Storm Petrel
Center for Biological Diversity (press release) - Tucson, AZ, USA, 01 July 2009
Artificial light at night attracts nocturnally active seabirds such as the ashy storm petrel like moths to a flame. Instead of going about their natural foraging and breeding activities, storm petrels will continuously circle or collide with lighted structures at night, leading to exhaustion, injury, and even death...


One Thousand Ocean dune restoration, lighting design to help preserve sea turtle-nesting site
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung) - Wien, Austria, 01 July 2009
One Thousand Ocean's lighting will be low in intensity, often with a special turtle-safe coating, in order to appropriately filter the light. A lot of LED technology is being used as well. In addition, the building has a 45% transmittance of light, meaning that only 45% of interior light that hits the windows and glass doors makes it way through them. This tinted glass also produces air-conditioning system energy savings...




Dark Sky Conferences





European Symposium: Darksky 2009

Held 17-19 September in Armagh, Ireland

 IDA 21st Annual General Meeting

Held 14 & 15 November in Phoenix, AZ, USA after GreenBuild

Discounts available for IDA members and Section Leaders!
Email ida at darksky.org for more information.

AGM Sponsorship Opportunities 






Ways to Support IDA





Donate Now and Become a Member! 

eBay Giving Works Program - Donate proceeds to IDA from items you sell on eBay. 

A Memorial Donation or Commemorative Gift - Commemorative gifts offer a unique way to honor a special event, such as a wedding, anniversary or birthday, in the life of someone you love. By giving a memorial gift in memory of a family member or friend, you not only affirm your environmental values, but also recognize that these values were shared by the individual being honored. Whether in condolence or in honor of an occasion or person, your friends and family will appreciate the thoughtfulness of your contribution. 

Planned Giving - Gift planning is an exciting way to fulfill philanthropic goals because planning a gift through your estate provides not only a legacy of support for IDA, but also multiple financial and tax benefits to you and your family. 










Your support helps us continue the fight to save the night! 







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