The Dark Sky Initiative
About Light Pollution
So, there are many reasons to reduce light pollution. In fact, it helps maintain a natural environment for nocturnal birds and animals, which supports our overall ecosystem. Also, energy efficient lighting reduces energy use and energy dependence, which in turn helps to conserve our natural resources.
Additionally, reducing the amount of artificial light aids in resetting the human circadian rhythm — we all know how important sleep is! With busy lives, stress, and constant light from our TVs, phones, and other devices, our sleep patterns these days can be unpredictable and unnatural. When we take steps towards eliminating light pollution outside, we support our bodies in the process of resetting into a more natural, less stressed rhythm. The beautiful skies we get to experience are, of course, an added bonus.
Sterling Ranch is Proud to be a Part of the Movement
- We make sure that exterior security lighting is directed downward so that the light “cone” does not cause glare to adjacent properties or onto the street.
- If we have solar in-ground lighting, we make sure it is less than 12 inches in height, each light is less than 5 lumens, and the fixtures are placed at the edges of walks, driveways, and planting beds.
- We limit outdoor decorative lighting to the back yard, making sure each light is less than 5 lumens and does not cause glare to adjacent properties.
- We turn off decorative lighting by 10pm.
- Our community street lighting comes on fully at dusk and at 10:00pm reduces automatically by 50%. All community street lights turn off at dawn.
- As a part of our community governance, we make sure we receive approval from the Design Review Committee if we are modifying or adding any exterior lighting such as motion-detector spotlights, security lighting, landscape lighting, accent lighting, ballasted fixtures, or additional lighting to doors or windows.