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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. "Luminaire" means a complete light fixture.
1 22 7. "Night sky" means the sky overhead on a clear night.
1 23 8. "Outdoor light fixture" means an electricity powered
1 24 illuminating device which is permanently installed outdoors
1 25 containing a total light source of more than one thousand
1 26 eight hundred lumens per fixture.
1 27 9. "State facility" means property owned by the state.
1 28 10. "Terrestrial light" means light produced by electric
1 29 light sources.
1 30 11. "Uplight" means light that goes directly up into the
1 31 night sky from a light fixture.
1 32 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 459.2 FINDINGS.
1 33 The general assembly makes all of the following findings:
1 34 1. The night sky is an important part of the natural
1 35 heritage of the citizens of this state and steps should be
2 1 taken to minimize the amount of terrestrial light that shines
2 2 up into the night sky. Uplight from terrestrial light sources
2 3 is wasteful and has made it increasingly difficult for the
2 4 citizens of the state to enjoy the night sky because celestial
2 5 objects are obscured.
2 6 2. Outdoor light fixtures that produce uplight usually
2 7 also produce glare. Outdoor light fixtures that do not
2 8 produce uplight generally do not produce much glare. Glare
2 9 often hinders visibility and produces a cluttered,
2 10 unattractive nighttime environment. Glare should be kept to a
2 11 minimum. Light that leaves a fixture in or near the
2 12 horizontal plane through the lowest part of the fixture
2 13 produces glare.
2 14 3. Outdoor light fixtures should direct light only to
2 15 where the light is wanted or needed. When practicable,
2 16 outdoor light fixtures should produce light only when that
2 17 light is needed. This will result in energy savings, lower
2 18 operating costs, and more efficient utilization of the light.
2 19 Other benefits include improved night sky visibility, reduced
2 20 glare, improved safety and security due to better nighttime
2 21 visibility, and a more attractive environment.
2 22 4. The illuminating engineering society of North America
2 23 has recommended light levels for various outdoor lighting
2 24 applications. These light levels should not be exceeded.
2 25 Excessive light levels are unnecessary and wasteful and often
2 26 result in light which is obtrusive, causing glare, light
2 27 trespass, and uplight.
2 28 5. Uplight, glare, light trespass, and excessive light
2 29 levels all constitute light pollution. Steps must be taken
2 30 immediately to begin the long process of reducing light
2 31 pollution caused by outdoor lighting in this state.
2 32 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 459.3 LOCAL GOALS AND REGULATIONS.
2 33 1. By January 1, 2003, all political subdivisions of the
2 34 state shall take steps to address the obtrusive elements of
2 35 outdoor lighting through new or revised outdoor lighting codes
3 1 or new or revised local ordinances. These codes or ordinances
3 2 shall include, but not be limited to, any of the following:
3 3 a. Requirements that a high percentage of or all new and
3 4 replacement outdoor light fixtures be full cutoff outdoor
3 5 light fixtures.
3 6 b. Requirements that a high percentage of or all new and
3 7 replacement outdoor light fixtures emit no more than five
3 8 percent of their light in the zone from the horizontal plane
3 9 through the lowest part of the fixture to fifteen degrees
3 10 below the horizontal plane.
3 11 c. Maximum allowable light levels for various outdoor
3 12 lighting applications based on illuminating engineering
3 13 society of North America recommendations.
3 14 d. Prohibition of outdoor lighting which shines or
3 15 reflects light onto or into a neighboring property, so as to
3 16 annoy or disturb the persons inhabiting such neighboring
3 17 property, as constituting a nuisance.
3 18 e. Requirements that electric utilities serving rural
3 19 customers to offer as an option, if not required as in
3 20 subsection 1, full cutoff outdoor light fixtures to their
3 21 customers for dusk-to-dawn security lights.
3 22 2. A political subdivision of the state that adopts the
3 23 outdoor lighting code in effect in Ames, Iowa, on the
3 24 effective date of this Act is assumed to have complied with
3 25 this section.
3 26 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 459.4 STATE FACILITIES OUTDOOR
3 27 LIGHTING.
3 28 1. By January 1, 2002, any new or replacement outdoor
3 29 light fixture, at a state facility, in its installed position
3 30 shall not emit any direct light above a horizontal plane
3 31 through the lowest direct light emitting part of the outdoor
3 32 light fixture, unless the facility has been designated for
3 33 historic preservation by the state or the national park
3 34 service, or the outdoor lighting meeting the requirements of
3 35 this subsection would compromise the intended purposes and
4 1 functions of the facility. Replacement of outdoor light
4 2 fixtures occurs when at least twenty-five percent of the
4 3 outdoor light fixtures at a state facility are replaced within
4 4 one year.
4 5 2. By January 1, 2002, any new or replacement outdoor
4 6 light fixture, at a state facility, in its installed position
4 7 shall not emit any more than five percent of its total light
4 8 output in the zone from fifteen degrees below the horizontal
4 9 plane to the horizontal plane through the lowest direct light
4 10 emitting part of the outdoor light fixture, unless the
4 11 facility has been designated for historic preservation by the
4 12 state or the national park service, or the outdoor lighting
4 13 meeting the requirements of this subsection would compromise
4 14 the intended purposes and functions of the facility.
4 15 Replacement of outdoor light fixtures occurs when at least
4 16 twenty-five percent of the outdoor lighting fixtures at a
4 17 state facility are replaced within one year.
4 18 3. By January 1, 2005, any outdoor light fixture, at a
4 19 state facility, in its installed position shall not emit any
4 20 direct light above a horizontal plane through the lowest
4 21 direct light emitting part of the outdoor light fixture,
4 22 unless the facility has been designated for historic
4 23 preservation by the state or the national park service, or the
4 24 outdoor lighting would compromise the intended purposes and
4 25 functions of the facility.
4 26 4. By January 1, 2005, any outdoor light fixture, at a
4 27 state facility, in its installed position shall not emit any
4 28 more than five percent of its total light output in the zone
4 29 from fifteen degrees below the horizontal plane to the
4 30 horizontal plane through the lowest direct light emitting part
4 31 of the outdoor light fixture, unless the facility has been
4 32 designated for historic preservation by the state or the
4 33 national park service, or the outdoor light fixture would
4 34 compromise the intended purposes and functions of the
4 35 facility.
5 1 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 459.5 EXEMPTIONS.
5 2 All of the following shall be exempt from the requirements
5 3 of this chapter:
5 4 1. At a state facility, a luminaire that does not meet the
5 5 definition of an outdoor light fixture as provided in this
5 6 chapter.
5 7 2. All temporary emergency lighting needed by law
5 8 enforcement, fire department, or other emergency service
5 9 personnel, and all vehicular luminaries.
5 10 3. All hazard warning luminaire required by federal
5 11 regulatory agencies.
5 12 EXPLANATION
5 13 This bill relates to outdoor light fixture efficiency and
5 14 goals for local regulations regarding outdoor light
5 15 efficiency.
5 16 The bill lists the following legislative findings:
5 17 1. The night sky, defined as the sky overhead on a clear
5 18 night, is important to the citizens and uplight, defined as
5 19 light that goes directly up into the night sky from a light
5 20 fixture, is wasteful.
5 21 2. Glare, defined as light from a light source that draws
5 22 attention to the light source itself rather than to what the
5 23 light source is illuminating and that causes visual
5 24 discomfort, eye fatigue, or a loss of visual performance,
5 25 hinders visibility and should be kept to a minimum.
5 26 3. Outdoor light fixtures should direct light only to
5 27 where the light is wanted and should only produce light when
5 28 that light is needed.
5 29 4. The illuminating engineering society of North America
5 30 has recommended light levels for various outdoor lighting
5 31 applications and these light levels should not be exceeded.
5 32 5. Steps must be taken to reduce light pollution, defined
5 33 as obtrusive elements of outdoor lighting.
5 34 The bill provides that by January 1, 2003, all political
5 35 subdivisions of the state shall take steps to address the
6 1 obtrusive elements of outdoor lighting through new or revised
6 2 outdoor lighting codes or new or revised local ordinances.
6 3 These codes and ordinances shall include any of the following:
6 4 1. Requirements that new and replacement light fixtures be
6 5 full cutoff.
6 6 2. Recommendations for new and replacement light fixtures
6 7 to emit no more than 5 percent of their light in the zone from
6 8 the horizontal plane through the lowest part of the fixture to
6 9 15 degrees below the horizontal plane.
6 10 3. Setting maximum allowable light levels for various
6 11 outdoor lighting applications based on illuminating
6 12 engineering society of North America recommendations.
6 13 4. Prohibitions of outdoor lighting which shines or
6 14 reflects light onto or into a neighboring property, so as to
6 15 annoy or disturb the persons inhabiting such neighboring
6 16 property as constituting a nuisance.
6 17 5. Requiring electric utilities serving rural customers to
6 18 offer as an option, if not otherwise required, full cutoff
6 19 light fixtures to their customers for dusk-to-dawn security
6 20 lights.
6 21 The bill provides that adoption of the outdoor lighting
6 22 code in effect in Ames, Iowa, on the effective dates of this
6 23 bill assumes compliance with these requirements.
6 24 The bill provides separate efficiency requirements for
6 25 outdoor light fixtures at facilities owned by the state. The
6 26 bill provides that, by January 1, 2002, these requirements
6 27 only apply to new or replacement outdoor light fixtures. The
6 28 bill provides that, by January 1, 2005, all outdoor light
6 29 fixtures at state facilities must meet the separate efficiency
6 30 requirements.
6 31 The bill exempts certain luminaires at state facilities,
6 32 emergency lighting, and hazard warning luminaires from the
6 33 requirements.
6 34 LSB 5295DP 78
6 35 tm/cf/24.1
Text: SSB03034 Text: SSB03036 Text: SSB03000 - SSB03099 Text: SSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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