OUTDOOR LIGHTING PRINCIPLES FOR AUSTRALIA IN THE 21ST CENTURY

B. A. J. Clark BSc, MAppSc, PhD, DipMechEng

Honorary Life Member, Astronomical Society of Victoria Inc.

Summary

Public and private outdoor lighting in Australia often lags well behind world's best practice. Far too much unused and waste light illuminates the night sky, needlessly damages the environment or is otherwise obtrusive. Producing this light wastes energy and unnecessarily requires greenhouse gas emissions. Artificial sky glow, one of many undesirable consequences, hampers astronomical observation and research and also degrades the aesthetic beauty of the night sky. Poor lighting practices can adversely affect natural resources conservation and biodiversity as well as human health, safety and recreation.

Control of obtrusive lighting is relatively simple and economical. Inclusion of such control in future outdoor lighting strategies has a low technical risk and will result in a more attractive, comfortable, safe and healthy visual environment for residents, workers, shoppers, travellers and tourists. Comprehensive regional outdoor lighting codes, or better, a national code, could assist commerce, improve livability and assist Australia to meet its greenhouse gas emission targets.

To receive a copy of this document (50 pages; .RTF format for PC's or Mac's; 216K)
Please Click to download the (216K) document now.

Please Click to download the (976K) zip file containing part 2 of document.

© Copyright B. A. J. Clark, Australia 1999. The copyright owner hereby gives permission for the entire text to be transmitted in full by electronic means and printed in full by any person(s) or organisation(s) with a legitimate interest in environmentally acceptable outdoor lighting. Paper copies can be purchased by arrangement with the Astronomical Society of Victoria, Box 1059J, GPO Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia. Resale of this document in any form is prohibited.