Linden – Are the lights too bright in Linden?
Some inhabitants of Linden spoke on Monday, February 3, on February 3, the session of the Linden Planning Commission to ask the Commission to change its lighting standards in the zoning regulations in order to reduce light pollution.
Mike Dietz kept a presentation on artificial light at night and light pollution, which is defined as an excessive or inappropriate use of artificial light outdoors, according to the National Geographic.
“The light pollution is available in different styles. It is easy to violate in which you have a light on a property and seem to be on another property, ”he said. “In this sense, glare is a sensation caused by excessive and uncontrolled brightness. Think that someone shines a flashlight in your eye when you are outside at night. The third style of light pollution is sky glow. “
Sky Glow describes when artificial light from cities and cities scattered in the atmosphere and ends the night sky that takes off the light from the stars.
“We all suffer from light pollution. Does light lick your bedroom at night? We had to throw away our mini blinds and buy blackout jalousia because of the street lights in front of our house, ”said Dietz. “When was the last time someone saw the Milky Way? I am here to tell you that it is so. “
According to the National Institutes of Health, light pollution and excessive exposure to artificial light can influence the circadian rhythm and mental health of a person. The US Ministry of the Interior Office for Land Management found that there are connections between “exposure to artificial light and melatonin suppression that can lead to various medical problems in humans, including increased risk of obesity, heart disease and various types of cancer. “
Artificial light has negative effects on the animal world, including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants, says Darksky. Hard lights, especially cool lights that seem in the eyes of the people, make it difficult to see it more difficult. “Think of a car that comes up with the light lights,” said Dietz.
According to Dietz's report, poorly designed or excessive lighting can create glare and hard shadows, which makes it more difficult to see clearly.
“This can lead to an increased risk of accidents such as car accidents and pedestrian injuries. While some think that more lighting reduces crime, studies have shown that too much or poorly placed lighting can actually increase the risk of criminal activity. Bright, indiscriminately lighting can create high contrast areas, which makes it easier for criminals to hide in shade and at the same time to see their surroundings. An increased lighting reduces fear of crimes, ”says his report.
Take a look at the sidebar on page 19 to find out how the lighting is measured in foot candy.
Dietz carried out his own light pollution survey and traveled through Linden to measure the brightness of street lamps and companies on his morning commuting. He used a light knife in his phone and an app that he had downloaded.
Linden's municipal code of Regulation 154.117 Location and external lighting standards state that “the lighting of the floor lighting must not exceed the average of 1.5 feet. The light intensity in the soil may not exceed 0.1 foot candles on the baseline in addition to the properties or 1.0-foot candles in the local or used properties and 1.0-foot candles at the property limit in addition to all other used 1.0-foot candles. “
During his survey, Dietz discovered that a light in the Hickory Street was measured at 4.2 foot clands. “In this part of the city, this only seems in the windows of all in the windows. I am disappointed that you are trying to sleep in it, ”said Dietz.
“What surprises me most because it is brand new, (IT) had to go through in the planning and approval process, why is Beacon and Bridge at 50? Fifty foot candles under this canopy, ”he said. “I feel that our current standard is not sufficient.”
Dietz found that Sedona, Arizona and Ann Arbor have determined both regulations for light pollution and asked the planning commission to update the location 154.117 and the outdoor lighting standards in order to obtain five principles for responsible lighting outdoors.
These five principles only include the use of the light, the need, the limitation of the luminaires to property lines and the requirement of a certain shield, the adjustment of a maximum number of foot candles that are approved in certain zoning, a output lock and timer for lights at night and Set with warm -colored lights. See the full presentation in Lindenmi.us.
Dietz also volunteered to be a committee for lighting.
Judy Hunter, who lived in Linden, said she lives on a street that also has a very strong light and she has to get blackout curtains.
Adam Young, the city's planning and zoning administrator, said the zoning regulations do not refer to public lights. He said that the zoning regulation, which Dietz mentioned, covers private properties and not public property. He said her zoning regulations do not apply to their street lamps.
Council member Brad Dick asked the director of public work Don Grice whether the city could have a contribution to lights that could belong to consumer energy and its lumen distribution or color. Grice said he could turn with the consumers. Grice said they were responsible for the decorative lamps in the city center. Road lighting is treated by the energy consumer energy.
Commissioner Daniel Cusson said that he “understands” it and these headlights can be dazzling at night. “We will contribute to ensuring that we have the best interest in the city in mind,” said Cusson.
Commissioner Ben Cox, who teaches astronomy on the Linden High School, said: “I definitely think it is worth examining it.”
He said studies show a “very low” correlation between highly lighted rooms and a reduction in crime, and there are high quality and inexpensive camera systems that companies could use instead of very light lights.
According to Dietz's report, the lighting of a light is measured in foot candy. A scandel is the light that is provided by a light source of a candela (formerly candle) at a distance of 1.
• Sunny Day: 10,000 foot scandel
• Detailed workstations: 50-100 foot scandel
• Retail transactions: 20 – 80 foot scandel
• General office work: 30-50 foot scandel
• Living room: 10–20 foot scandel
• Full moon: 0.02 foot scandel
• Minimum for seeing in the dark: 0.001 foot