Illuminate Your Property Responsibly: How Dark Sky Compliant Lighting Protects Delaware County’s Night Environment While Keeping Your Home Secure
As homeowners in Delaware County increasingly recognize the importance of environmental stewardship, a growing movement toward dark sky compliant lighting is transforming how we illuminate our outdoor spaces. This innovative approach to exterior lighting offers the perfect balance between protecting our natural night environment and maintaining the security and functionality your property needs.
Understanding Dark Sky Compliant Lighting
The DarkSky Approved program provides objective, third-party certification for products, designs, and completed projects that minimize glare, reduce light trespass, and don’t pollute the night sky. Dark-sky compliant light fixtures are designed to reduce light pollution, thus working in agreement with IDA’s mission to minimize glare, reduce light trespass and eliminate night sky pollution.
Dark sky-friendly fixtures distribute light down where it’s needed and not upwards or outwards. Dark Sky lighting is following exterior lighting practices of intentionally only lighting where, when, and what needs to be lit at any given time without emitting excess light into the environment.
The Growing Need in Pennsylvania
Dozens of municipalities across Pennsylvania have adopted lighting ordinances, recognizing the importance of protecting our night skies. Pennsylvania — alongside Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin — is one of the few states with pristine views of the night sky, a dwindling resource across the world. The PA Wilds have long been a holdout, but over the past decade, light pollution has slowly spread to the area.
Pittsburgh City Council has passed a new Dark Sky Ordinance for all of the city’s parks, facilities and streetlights. This is the first ordinance of its kind in the country and aims to replace the city’s 35,000 streetlights, and install up to 8,000 new ones, setting a precedent for other Pennsylvania communities.
Environmental and Health Benefits
The environmental advantages of dark sky compliant lighting extend far beyond simply preserving our view of the stars. Nighttime is important to the Earth’s ecosystem, and thus dark skies are essential to preserving the natural processes of surrounding wildlife. ALAN can disrupt breeding, migration, and behavior patterns.
For human health, dark sky lighting utilizes warm colors that resemble sunsets and promote relaxation. Additionally, darkness promotes melatonin production, a natural sleep aid, while bright lights slow melatonin production. Circadian rhythm is disturbed. Our sleeping patterns are “governed by the day-night cycle,” so being exposed to artificial light during the nighttime disrupts our body’s production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone.
Enhanced Security Without Compromise
Many homeowners worry that dark sky compliant lighting might compromise their property’s security, but the opposite is often true. Targeted lighting improves visibility around your property without causing glare. Dark sky compliant lighting illuminates walkways, driveways, and entrances effectively, enhancing safety and security for homeowners and visitors. This focused light ensures that areas are well-lit without disturbing neighbors or creating blind spots.
These fixtures provide ample light for surveillance cameras and security personnel to monitor the premises effectively. The focused, downward-directed light reduces shadows and blind spots, enhancing overall safety. Overly bright lights can create glare, which actually hampers visibility and can be uncomfortable for customers and employees.
Request fixtures that shield the light source to minimize glare and light trespass and facilitate better vision at night, which actually improves security effectiveness compared to harsh, unshielded lighting.
Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings
Dark sky compliant lighting fixtures can use less energy compared to traditional outdoor lights. There are significant amounts of wasted energy in traditional outdoor lighting, and dark sky lighting helps to minimize that waste by only using energy for lighting the necessary time, amount, and task needed.
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) estimates that at least 30 percent of all outdoor lighting in the U.S. is wasted, mostly by lights that aren’t properly shielded. By implementing dark sky compliant solutions, homeowners can significantly reduce their energy consumption and utility costs.
Professional Installation and Design
When considering landscape lighting in Delaware County, partnering with experienced professionals ensures optimal results. DiSabatino Inc., serving the Delaware County area for over 20 years, understands the importance of balancing environmental responsibility with functional outdoor lighting needs.
The DiSabatino team was built on the same core values we hold true today: Integrity, trust and a true passion for exceeding client expectations. We take pride in our reputation and legacy as an award-winning company with an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. We offer the strongest warranty in the industry – nearly double our competitors – and provide the highest quality of craftsmanship using only the finest materials.
Technical Considerations for Homeowners
When selecting dark sky compliant fixtures, several technical factors ensure optimal performance. Choose the right fixtures, that possibly include side and top glare shields, and 3000K color temperature. Ideally, a good BUG rating for dark sky compliance is 1-0-1, where B stands for backlight, U for uplight, and G for glare.
Warmer color temperatures are better, so 3000K and lower is the best option. This warmer light is not only better for the environment and human health but also creates a more welcoming atmosphere around your property.
Increasing Property Value
Installing dark sky compliant lighting can increase the resale value of your home. Buyers appreciate homes with environmentally friendly and energy-efficient features. Dark sky compliant fixtures not only improve aesthetics but also demonstrate a commitment to sustainable living, making your property more attractive to potential buyers.
Moving Forward Responsibly
As Delaware County continues to grow and develop, implementing dark sky compliant lighting represents a forward-thinking approach to outdoor illumination. Some communities have started implementing ordinances aimed at reducing light pollution. Adhering to dark sky lighting standards keeps you compliant with local regulations, avoiding potential fines and contributing to community-wide efforts to protect the night sky.
By choosing dark sky compliant lighting for your property, you’re not only protecting Delaware County’s natural night environment but also enhancing your home’s security, reducing energy costs, and contributing to a more sustainable future. The investment in responsible lighting pays dividends in environmental stewardship, improved functionality, and long-term cost savings while maintaining the safety and security your family deserves.