In the News

Can We Preserve our View of the Starry Night?
date posted: December 5 2005

Lake Tahoe Report #104
Feb. 10, 2005
By John Cobourn and Heather Segale

One of the benefits of living in or visiting Lake Tahoe is the good view of the stars and planets we have on our many clear nights. Compared to many parts of the country, especially in or near cities, we have very good night viewing of “the heavens.” But even at Lake Tahoe, the darkness of our evening sky is not what it used to be. Many people who used to enjoy the dark sky here are now becoming aware of local light pollution.

Light pollution refers to the glow of light we see at night above cities and towns and the glare that results from light shining sideways from unshielded fixtures. It is caused by improperly designed street and parking lot lighting which spills the light to the side and upwards to the sky. Additional light pollution is caused by lit signs, commercial building lights, and outdoor residential lights. Light pollution was noticed first by astronomers. The glow interferes with their ability to see the stars and galaxies. In a broader context, light pollution deprives everyone of the joys of seeing a sparkling night sky.

Even in woodsy neighborhoods, many people are prevented from seeing a dark sky because of unshielded high intensity security lights on their neighbors’ property. Such lights not only reduce our ability to see the stars, but they also waste energy and fail to provide security from crime. According to the darksky.org website’s information sheet 107, because these lights don't provide quality lighting, they don't provide "security". They do create harsh shadows in which criminals can hide, and they do interfere with one's night vision, so that you actually see less well at night in the glare of a "security light". As police officers will tell you, these unshielded lights also beam out the message for miles that "here is a location with things worth stealing".

One of the factors contributing to the intrusive effect of security lights is the practice of leaving them on continuously from sundown to sunup. An alternative is to use motion detector switches and to make certain lamps are shielded so that light is emitted only in a downward arc and remains on the user's property. Lower intensity, energy-efficient bulbs can be used instead of the "visible-for-miles" lamps. To remedy the problem, anytime an old style lights breaks or burns out, it should be replaced with a lower-intensity, energy efficient, full-cutoff fixture.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) has made reduction of light pollution a goal since 1987. Section 30.8 of the TRPA Code of Ordinances, available online at trpa.org, states that “parking lot, walkway and building lights shall be directed downward.” All new exterior lighting must meet the requirements of this section, and the agency requires retrofitting of existing non-conforming lights for redevelopment and remodel projects. In South Lake Tahoe, for example, the Park Avenue Redevelopment project, the Crescent “V” Shopping Center remodel/expansion project, and the Bijou Safeway expansion projects all installed night-friendly lighting that reduced light pollution. Similar projects have been completed in Meyers, Tahoe City and elsewhere on the North shore.

While residents and businesses in the Tahoe Basin are reducing the “light trespass” of unshielded outdoor lights, light pollution from outside the Basin appears to many to be on the increase. Mount Rose, for example, is clearly backlit at night from lights in Reno. The Carson Valley is also becoming brighter as it urbanizes and its light is visible on many nights to residents on the West shore. If the new freeway bypass in Carson City has bright lights similar to the ones installed a few years ago on the Highway 395 expansion in South Reno, we could see more light to the east of the basin.

Local amateur astronomers like Dr. Paul Guttman of Incline Village are working hard to educate people about what we can do to prevent and reduce light pollution from our properties. You can learn about his educational program, Space Science for Schools, at his website, ss4s.org.