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Flagstaff, Arizona was the first community to be recognized as a "Dark-Sky" community. Photo from Architectural Record. |
Growing concern about this issue has led to the formation of groups, like the International Dark-Sky Association (known as the IDA and founded in the late 1980s by astronomers) and an increase in regulations/standards for lighting design professionals, like the model lighting ordinance (MLO) that communities can adopt in whole or in part. The MLO was developed by the IDA and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES). According to the IDA's Technical Director, Pete Strasser, the MLO calls for “light where you need it, when you need it, and no more.” While the MLO has not been widely adopted, it has been incorporated into the LEED credit system.
Opponents of these standards argue that the guidelines over simplify the issue and that more study is needed. Read the complete article online and tell us what you think! Also, shout out to fellow IALD experts, James Benya, Nancy Clanton, and Glenn Heinmiller, who are all quoted in the article.