Tag: floodlights

Non-Aggression, Floodlights, and the Aging Eye

In our ongoing journey back through the archives of the IDA Information Sheets, here are three more that are noteworthy and still relevant.

IDA Information Sheet 161 – April 2000
IDA’s Approach to People About Bad Lighting

Though this information sheet was produced in the year following my tenure as IDA Information Sheet Editor, I am sure this one was penned by David L. Crawford (1931-), co-founder of the International Dark-Sky Association.

In these hyper-polarized times, Crawford’s advice is even more important than it was in April 2000. Not only for how to talk to someone about their bad lighting, but for talking to anyone about any behavior born out of ignorance or the consumption of misinformation.

I have so many fond memories of hearing Dave Crawford, the good-lighting evangelist, speak. If I recall correctly, his father was a minister, so you can see where he began to hone his exquisite powers of persuasion and his always non-confrontational approach. He never talked down to you. Or over you. He was effective. “Avoid confrontation, even in a crisis mode. Be professional, and calm.” And, “It is critical to speak from knowledge and experience, not just emotion.” Words of wisdom. Even in the worst of circumstances.

IDA-Information-Sheet-161-April-2000Download

IDA Information Sheet 158 – October 1999
Shielding Floodlights

Bob Crelin, inventor of the phenomenal GlareBuster (sadly, no longer available), and author of the children’s books There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars and Faces of the Moon, wrote this information sheet. What a pleasure it was working with Bob and I treasured our conversations at IDA meetings in Tucson back in the day. I wonder what he is up to these days?

IDA Information Sheet 158 – October 1999DOWNLOAD

IDA Information Sheet 156 – August 1999
The Aging Eye – Some Basic Information

Dave Crawford wrote this information sheet, and it contains a wealth of information. Notice how he hits the major points multiple times and yet from a variety of angles. Repetition can help us to learn and internalize what we read.

From my own personal experience with “aging eyes”, I am finding it more difficult to drive at the posted speed limit at night. 5 mph less than the posted speed limit is more comfortable, and safer. I drive a low-profile vehicle with normal halogen headlights. But the many aggressive drivers now with high-profile vehicles (SUVs and pickup trucks—those with suspension lifts are the worst) and blindingly-bright headlights (the likes of which we have never seen before) are making night driving increasingly dangerous for the older driver. And there are many of us.

IDA-Information-Sheet-156-August-1999Download

Bad Lighting at Dodgeville High School

At a school board meeting in November 2017, concerns were raised about inadequate lighting for evening school events, so the Dodgeville School District directed Alliant Energy to install some additional lights.  The lighting was installed during a warm spell in January 2018, and the photographs you see below were taken during the afternoon and evening of June 17, 2018.

Rather than being used only when school events are taking place in the evening, these terrible lights are on dusk-to-dawn 365 nights a year.  They are too bright, poorly directed, poorly shielded, and the glare they cause on W. Chapel St. and N. Johnson St. could pose a safety concern for pedestrians not being seen by drivers experiencing disability glare.  I can imagine that adjacent neighbors are not too happy with the light trespass into their yards and residences, either.

This is a perfect example of poor lighting design and unintended consequences.  How could it be done better?  Look for the solution below the following series of photos documenting the problem.

Bleacher path floodlight produces a great deal of uplight, and illuminates the disc golf course far more than the bleacher path

Bleacher path floodlight is mounted in a nearly-horizontal orientation

Bleacher path floodlight

Bleacher path floodlight

Bleacher path looking towards the bleachers

Bleacher path looking towards W. Chapel St.

Bleacher path at night

Bleacher path floodlight lighting up the disc golf course. Also note how much brighter the illumination is from the newly-installed blue-white LED streetlight as compared with the orangish light from the older high pressure sodium (HPS) luminaire.

Bleacher path floodlight lighting up the disc golf course and basket

Large tree being brightly illuminated all night long with bleacher path in foreground

Sub-optimal parking lot lighting at Dodgeville High School

Overflow parking floodlight

Two additional overflow parking lot floodlights

Overflow parking floodlight

Overflow parking floodlights

Overflow parking floodlight glare and spill light

Overflow parking floodlight glare onto W. Chapel St. in Dodgeville

Overflow parking glare and spill light onto W. Chapel St. in Dodgeville

Solutions

Pedestrian-scale 2700K LED “soft” lighting could be installed along the bleacher path

https://www.rabweb.com/images/features/ledbollards/bollard-hero.png
Or vandal-resistant bollards could be used—even low voltage lighting

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If floodlights must be used, shield them, point them more downwards, and turn them off after 11:00 p.m. each night (or have them on only while evening school events are in progress)

In fact, regardless of the lighting solution, the lights should be either turned off or dimmed down to a lower level later at night.  (Security cameras will see just fine at lower light levels if that is a concern.)

Good neighbor outdoor lighting means minimizing GLUT:

Glare—never helps visibility
Light Trespass—no point in putting light where it is not needed
Uplight—sending light directly up into the night sky is a total waste
Too Much Light—use the right amount of light for the task, don’t overlight