Text: HF00264 Text: HF00266 Text: HF00200 - HF00299 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, 2003, 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, 2003, 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 2110HH 78 4 29 tm/cf/24.1
Text: HF00264 Text: HF00266 Text: HF00200 - HF00299 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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