Dark Sky Lighting - Light Trespass |
| The Virginia
Outdoor Lighting Taskforce (VOLT) defines Light Trespass as the poor
control of outdoor lighting that crosses property lines and detracts
from property values and our quality of life.
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| Light trespass is easy to
identify. It occurs when unwanted light shines on our property or
in our windows. When a bright, uncontrolled lighting installation
occurs near residential areas, the tranquility of the nighttime
environment is disturbed and the quality of life diminished. Light
Trespass is the most common source of citizen complaints.
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| Fortunately, light trespass
is easily controlled by using full cut-off fixtures and reasonable
illumination levels. Full cut-off fixtures keep the light down on
the ground, where it is needed, instead of being cast to the side or in
the sky, where it is wasted.
It is amazing to many that builders use decorative acorn lights for general area lightning. These fixtures may look good in the daytime, but they have no control over the direction of the light. Most of the light never makes it to the ground where it can help people see the road or sidewalk. In this case, the light trespass is not caused by a commercial enterprise or poor street lighting, it is caused by the builder of the residential neighborhood!
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