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To: Bluedot Living
From: Lauren Sinatra, Town of Nantucket Energy Coordinator, and Gail Walker, Founder of Nantucket Lights
Subject: Save the Night, Reduce Energy Waste
On Nantucket, as in many communities, the indiscriminate use of outdoor lighting is flooding the night sky with excessive brightness. This ever-present glow, known as light pollution, is interfering with our ability to enjoy the natural beauty of the night sky and is harmful in other ways. It’s also a huge waste of energy.
Fortunately, this is one kind of pollution that’s easy to reverse. We just need to be more mindful about our outdoor lighting, both the fixtures and bulbs we choose to use, as well as how we choose to use them.
The Dark Side of Light: The Harm from Light Pollution
- Brightening of the Night Sky. Until recently, Nantucket’s night sky has been protected by its remote location, thirty miles at sea. But sadly, light pollution on the island is now obscuring the starry skies that have long captivated residents, visitors, and astronomers at the island’s observatory.
- Energy Waste. Light that is brighter than necessary or shines when and where it’s not needed is simply a waste of energy, leading to higher electrical bills and potential strain on the local electric grid.
- Harm to the Environment. Light pollution disrupts the natural cycles and behaviors of many species of wildlife, which can have cascading effects on local ecosystems. Even plants are adversely affected.
- Impact on Human Health, Safety and Quality of Life. Glare from bright, unshielded lights causes visual discomfort, reduces visibility, and creates safety hazards. When your light shines onto someone else’s property, it interferes with their ability to enjoy their own property. Exposure to artificial light at night can also suppress melatonin production and disrupt circadian rhythms, which has been linked to some serious health issues.
Light Pollution Solutions
There are simple actions that each of us can take to reduce light pollution and save energy. Small changes can make a big difference.
- Use energy-efficient LEDs. LEDs are much more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and should be used whenever possible to conserve energy and reduce Nantucket’s carbon footprint, keeping in mind the tips below.
- Use light only when it is truly needed. Every light should serve a clear and necessary purpose. If you’re not sure if a light is really needed, try removing it or turning it off. Timers and motion sensors are an easy way to ensure that light is available when needed but turned off when not.
- Make it targeted. Shield and direct outdoor lighting downward to shine where it is needed, while minimizing light trespass onto neighboring properties and upwards into the atmosphere.
- Adjust the brightness. Use the lowest light level required for the task. Choose low-lumen bulbs or use dimmers.
- Pay attention to color. Use warmer color lights whenever possible (2700K or less) to reduce the emission of blue-white light, which is harmful for people and wildlife and interferes with stargazing.
These practical principles are reflected in the requirements of Nantucket’s Outdoor Lighting Bylaw.
Outdoor Lighting Bylaw
Although Nantucket has had an outdoor lighting bylaw in effect since 2005, even stronger regulations were adopted in 2023 to address the growing light pollution on the island. The new regulations (Chapter 102 of the Nantucket Code) became effective Jan. 1, 2024.
In general, unless falling within an exception, all outdoor lighting must meet four requirements. It must be (1) be fully shielded (meaning no light can be emitted upwards) if the light is brighter than 600 lumens; (2) have a warm color temperature of 2700K or lower; (3) not exceed specified limits on brightness; and (4) be turned off between 11 pm and 6 am.
To help property owners comply with the new requirements, Nantucket Lights — a citizen advocacy group and the lead proponent of the new regulations — offers comprehensive guidance and practical tips in its publication, Outdoor Lighting Guide: Lighting with Nantucket in Mind.
Please Help Save the Night
The Town of Nantucket joins Nantucket Lights in urging all property owners to take a careful look at their own outdoor lighting to ensure that it uses minimal energy and complies with the new regulations.
To lead by example, the Town aims to upgrade the outdoor lighting at its facilities, is integrating lighting bylaw requirements in the design of new construction projects, and is investigating converting the streetlights on the island to more dark-sky friendly and energy-efficient models.
The island’s dark skies are an important part of Nantucket’s heritage and appeal. Let’s all work together to save the night!
Did you know?: The astronomical research of Maria Mitchell Association, founded in 1902, honors the legacy of Maria Mitchell, the first female astronomer in the United States, whose discovery of a comet while on Nantucket brought her international fame. Their stargazing open nights continue through the season. Click here for more details.
