I would get help by the "experts". Go to the Dark Sky Association web
site (others will have to give the exact URL to you) for information.
Too bad you don't have more time...there is a fantastic self running
CD slide/multimedia show that a friend picked up when he was at
Starizona. It was obviously aimed at Arizona...but really excellent
presentation.

In short...what you are looking for are lower wattage bulbs and
fixtures that don't aim sideways or up. The worst are upwards shining
billboard lights, sports fields lights and those big ball shaped
lights in parking lots. A huge amount of light goes upwards into space
taking away the night sky and wasting MILLIONS of dollars in
electrical energy. The ideal light fixtures are flat cut off
enclosures...ones that direct the light only downwards. As far as
street lights. My new home is in the suberbs of Michigan...there are
NO streetlights there and it is delightful...the only lights are
subdued dim house lights and perhaps some very low wattage garden path
lights.

I think if you go to the Dark Sky Association web site you will find
lots of facts that answer the general belief that lots of lights make
it "safer". Often those lights only provide lights to ATTRACT kids and
others to areas to make trouble. Sort of like the moths gathering
around a light at night effect.

We all know that this is a loosing battle...but at least we can help
slow this down. It is a shame that many of todays kids DON'T see the
skies.

What you need to do is throw their arguments back in their face...make
them provide proof of why they need them...and than use the cost of
all that waste energy and equipment and picked up by the home owners
as a tool on your side. Most importantly...don't just roll over...make
it hard for them to get the lights approved ;-)

Bob Berta

"Starlord" wrote in message ...
There's going to be a town meeting on 11/12 here in Rosamond and the subjest is
1st, a new higher fee to home owners to pay for street lighting. 2nd, the
paying for new street lighting in a park and in areas where there is none at
this time.

I will be there and I want to have some good ideas on hand to give to them to
save money. Ya, I know that No Lights would be best, but the powers that be here
are going to put them in no matter what, so I want to give them ideas of what
KIND of lights to use.

I want to hear your ideas too, to see if I can add them into what I will give
them. I'll be printing up my fact sheet.



--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

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