ASTRONOMICAL ALERTS Last updated: 12 February 2009

Subject:	Special Bulletin: Model Lighting Ordinance
Sent:	Tuesday, February 10, 2009 11:09:22
From:	International Dark-Sky Association (ida@darksky.org)

Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) Released for Public Review

The IDA/IES Joint Committee proudly announces the release to public
review of the Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO). For three years, IDA and
the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) have collaborated on the
creation of this breakthrough piece of civil legislation, designed to
promote universal implementation of energy efficient, dark sky friendly,
community outdoor lighting.

The MLO is written in code language to permit easy adoption into
community codes and bylaws. Five (5) Lighting Zones of differing
stringencies tailor the MLO to local needs and preferences while
remaining consistent with the latest energy code criteria. The MLO was
tested in Anchorage, AK in 2008 and adjusted to ensure ease of adoption
in most communities.

Subsequent versions will incorporate guidelines for street lighting,
signage, and sports lighting applications. When finished, the MLO will
be an invaluable tool in creating efficient and consistent outdoor
lighting plans.

Read the MLO*

*This version is considered at 60% completion.  Review comments will be
carefully considered for changes and final inclusion in the MLO. Public
Review and Comment

More information is available on IDA's MLO Public Review page.

During the review process, comments are welcome by all members of the
public regardless of IDA or IES membership. Please read the MLO and
share your ideas.

Public review closes Friday, 10 April, 2009.

MLO Comment Form Instructions

In order to ensure accuracy in the reporting of public comments, each
individual is limited to one (1) comment submission form. However, that
submission form may be up to a maximum length of ten (10) pages, typed.
If the commenter requires additional pages, a request for a variance
from this limit may be submitted to ida@darksky.org. All comments must
be typed and word processed. Electronic submissions in .pdf, .doc,
.docx, .rtf are preferred.

MLO Comment Form
(Download from IDA's MLO Public Review page)

IDA will post all comments anonymously on the IDA Web site. If
necessary, an IDA/IES response will accompany the comment.

The comments posted on the Web will remain anonymous, but in order to
reduce duplicate submissions, each commenter is required to fill in all
fields on this form.

If any field is missing, the comment will be considered invalid and will
not be considered in the final review.

Submissions should be made to:
ida@darksky.org 
with the subject line: MLO Public Comment Submission
Fax: +1 520.293.3192

If changes are made to the MLO, a second public comment period of 30
days will be conducted.

We look forward to hearing from you.
Press Release: 
Model Lighting Ordinance Open to Public Review


February 10, 2009 - After more than three years of work, the IDA/IES
Joint Task Force has completed its work and approved the long-awaited
Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) for review and public comment through the
parent organizations, the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) and
the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

The breakthroughs of the MLO include:

		A single ordinance that can be used in every community with
		little or no community-specific language through the use of five
		(5) Lighting Zones of differing stringencies that tailor the MLO
		to address local needs and preferences

		A prescriptive system for regulating most common lighting
		installations using a new rating system called BUG
		(Backlight-Uplight-Glare) that prevents excessive lighting and
		permits easy plan review and field inspection

		A computer analysis option for complex lighting installations
		applies the latest research findings with respect to glare,
		skyglow, and light trespass and restricts designs to appropriate
		limits of off-site impact
		
The MLO is written in code language to permit easy adoption into
community codes and bylaws. In addition, the MLO is consistent with the
California Title 24 outdoor lighting energy code, the next generation of
the IES' Recommended Practice for Outdoor Environmental Lighting, and
the next generation of ASHRAE/IES 90.1 and IECC energy codes. It is
being submitted to the US Green Buildings Council (USGBC) to be used for
the LEED system Sustainable Sites Light Pollution Reduction Credit.

Continue reading press release >>

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