This 4th of July, fireworks will mark the holiday with brilliant displays of light in the night sky. These lights may obscure the stars momentarily, but they will reappear when the fireworks shows end. Currently, many of Nashville’s outdoor lights also light up the night sky, although their impact is ongoing. Light pollution is a big problem in cities, but choosing the right lights and fixtures can go a long way to solving it.
While light pollution may seem a mere nuisance to astronomers attempting to view constellations, it actually negatively impacts society and nature in a number of ways. It disrupts ecosystems, affecting migratory patterns, predator/ prey relationships, and plant and animal physiology. Humans are also affected, as excess light at night disrupts circadian rhythms and can cause sleep disorders and hormonal imbalances. The overuse of light at night also wastes significant amounts of energy and money. For these reasons, Nashville adopted a dark skies ordinance in 2021 to ensure that regulates light levels, timing, and directionality in new construction.
Until recently, Fire Station 9 on 2nd Avenue South had two well lights shining upwards, sending light into the night sky. They moreover did not seal well, allowing rain to enter and resulting in maintenance problems. StarGazer, an impressive new downlight, presents a solution to these issues. Through the curvature of the fixture and triangulation method of LED placement, Stargazer ensures efficiency and restricts light pollution. As a result, StarGazer has received the International Dark Sky Association's “Dark Sky Approved” certification.
The benefits of these lights do not stop at limiting light pollution. StarGazer is also immensely more energy and cost efficient than a typical halogen lamp, lasting 25 times longer (50,000 hours of use). It is estimated that these lamps could last over 12 years. Moreover, the energy saved from the utilization of LEDs in place of a typical High Pressure Sodium light is estimated to be around $120 annually for a single light. Thus, using StarGazer is not only a great option to address environmental issues, but to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs as well.
This 4th of July, as fireworks light the night sky, the StarGazer will be doing its part to keep the sky dark -- maximizing energy, cost, and environmental efficiency.
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