Text: HF02265 Text: HF02267 Text: HF02200 - HF02299 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 459.1 OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURE
1 2 EFFICIENCY – DEFINITIONS.
1 3 As used in this section unless the context otherwise
1 4 requires:
1 5 1. "Celestial objects" means stars, constellations, the
1 6 milky way, meteors, comets, the northern lights, star
1 7 clusters, nebulae, galaxies, the moon, and the planets.
1 8 2. "Full cutoff" means no more than one-tenth of a percent
1 9 of the total light emitted by a fixture is emitted above a
1 10 horizontal plane through the lowest part of the fixture.
1 11 3. "Glare" means light from a light source that draws
1 12 attention to the light source itself rather than to what the
1 13 light source is illuminating, and that causes visual
1 14 discomfort, eye fatigue, or a loss in visual performance.
1 15 4. "Light pollution" means the obtrusive elements of
1 16 outdoor lighting, namely uplight, glare, light trespass, and
1 17 excessive light levels.
1 18 5. "Light trespass" means light that shines into or onto
1 19 neighboring properties, and is of an intrusive and
1 20 objectionable nature.
1 21 6. "Night sky" means the sky overhead on a clear night.
1 22 7. "Outdoor light fixture" means an electricity powered
1 23 illuminating device which is permanently installed outdoors
1 24 containing a total light source of more than one thousand
1 25 eight hundred lumens per fixture.
1 26 8. "Terrestrial light" means light produced by electric
1 27 light sources.
1 28 9. "Uplight" means light that goes directly up into the
1 29 night sky from a light fixture.
1 30 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 459.2 FINDINGS.
1 31 The general assembly makes all of the following findings:
1 32 1. The night sky is an important part of the natural
1 33 heritage of the citizens of this state and steps should be
1 34 taken to minimize the amount of terrestrial light that shines
1 35 up into the night sky. Uplight from terrestrial light sources
2 1 is wasteful and has made it increasingly difficult for the
2 2 citizens of the state to enjoy the night sky because celestial
2 3 objects are obscured.
2 4 2. Outdoor light fixtures that produce uplight usually
2 5 also produce glare. Outdoor light fixtures that do not
2 6 produce uplight generally do not produce much glare. Glare
2 7 often hinders visibility and produces a cluttered,
2 8 unattractive nighttime environment. Glare should be kept to a
2 9 minimum. Light that leaves a fixture in or near the
2 10 horizontal plane through the lowest part of the fixture
2 11 produces glare.
2 12 3. Outdoor light fixtures should direct light only to
2 13 where the light is wanted or needed. When practicable,
2 14 outdoor light fixtures should produce light only when that
2 15 light is needed. This will result in energy savings, lower
2 16 operating costs, and more efficient utilization of the light.
2 17 Other benefits include improved night sky visibility, reduced
2 18 glare, improved safety and security due to better nighttime
2 19 visibility, and a more attractive environment.
2 20 4. The illuminating engineering society of North America
2 21 has recommended light levels for various outdoor lighting
2 22 applications. These light levels should not be exceeded.
2 23 Excessive light levels are unnecessary and wasteful and often
2 24 result in light which is obtrusive, causing glare, light
2 25 trespass, and uplight.
2 26 5. Uplight, glare, light trespass, and excessive light
2 27 levels all constitute light pollution. Steps must be taken
2 28 immediately to begin the long process of reducing light
2 29 pollution caused by outdoor lighting in this state.
2 30 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 459.3 LOCAL GOALS AND REGULATIONS.
2 31 By January 1, 2002, all political subdivisions of the state
2 32 shall take steps to address the obtrusive elements of outdoor
2 33 lighting through new or revised local ordinances. These
2 34 ordinances shall include any of the following:
2 35 1. Requirements that a high percentage of or all new and
3 1 replacement outdoor light fixtures be full cutoff outdoor
3 2 light fixtures.
3 3 2. Requirements that a high percentage of or all new and
3 4 replacement outdoor light fixtures emit no more than four
3 5 percent of their light in the zone from the horizontal plane
3 6 through the lowest part of the fixture to fifteen degrees
3 7 below the horizontal plane.
3 8 3. Set maximum allowable light levels for various outdoor
3 9 lighting applications based on illuminating engineering
3 10 society of North America recommendations.
3 11 4. Prohibition of outdoor lighting which shines or
3 12 reflects light onto or into a neighboring property, so as to
3 13 annoy or disturb the persons inhabiting such neighboring
3 14 property, as constituting a nuisance.
3 15 5. Require electric utilities serving rural customers to
3 16 offer as an option, if not required as in subsection 1, full
3 17 cutoff outdoor light fixtures to their customers for dusk-to-
3 18 dawn security lights.
3 19 EXPLANATION
3 20 This bill relates to outdoor light fixture efficiency and
3 21 goals for local regulations regarding outdoor light
3 22 efficiency.
3 23 The bill lists the following legislative findings:
3 24 1. The night sky, defined as the sky overhead on a clear
3 25 night, is important to the citizens and uplight, defined as
3 26 light that goes directly up into the night sky from a light
3 27 fixture, is wasteful.
3 28 2. Glare, defined as light from a light source that draws
3 29 attention to the light source itself rather than to what the
3 30 light source is illuminating and that causes visual
3 31 discomfort, eye fatigue, or a loss of visual performance,
3 32 hinders visibility and should be kept to a minimum.
3 33 3. Outdoor light fixtures should direct light only to
3 34 where the light is wanted and should only produce light when
3 35 that light is needed.
4 1 4. The illuminating engineering society of North America
4 2 has recommended light levels for various outdoor lighting
4 3 applications and these light levels should not be exceeded.
4 4 5. Steps must be taken to reduce light pollution, defined
4 5 as obtrusive elements of outdoor lighting.
4 6 The bill provides that by January 1, 2002, all political
4 7 subdivisions of the state shall take steps to address the
4 8 obtrusive elements of outdoor lighting through new or revised
4 9 local ordinances. These ordinances shall include any of the
4 10 following:
4 11 1. Requirements that new and replacement light fixtures be
4 12 full cutoff.
4 13 2. Recommendations for new and replacement light fixtures
4 14 to emit no more than 4 percent of their light in the zone from
4 15 the horizontal plane through the lowest part of the fixture to
4 16 15 degrees below the horizontal plane.
4 17 3. Set maximum allowable light levels for various outdoor
4 18 lighting applications based on illuminating engineering
4 19 society of North America recommendations.
4 20 4. Prohibitions of outdoor lighting which shines or
4 21 reflects light onto or into a neighboring property, so as to
4 22 annoy or disturb the persons inhabiting such neighboring
4 23 property as constituting a nuisance.
4 24 5. Require electric utilities serving rural customers to
4 25 offer as an option, if not otherwise required, full cutoff
4 26 light fixtures to their customers for dusk-to-dawn security
4 27 lights.
4 28 LSB 3817HH 77
4 29 tm/cf/24.1
Text: HF02265 Text: HF02267 Text: HF02200 - HF02299 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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