COUNTY CODE
Okanogan County zoning code states outdoor lighting, “shall be directed downward and shielded to minimize potential glare to motorists and off-site residents. No exterior light with a direct source visible from a neighboring property shall be installed. Indirect sources and horizontal cut-off fixtures are recommended to reduce glare and provide general ambient light.” Using smart lighting practices can improve everyone’s health. A recent study by WSU Spokane Sleep and Performance Center found nighttime exposure to LED and other bluespectrum lighting suppresses the hormone melatonin and leads to increase risks for diabetes, cancer and a multitude of other chronic conditions. The AMA recommends shielding all outdoor light fixtures and only using warm lights with 3,000K temperature or less. Artificial light at night,
especially blue lights, harm wildlife. Bright lights at night disrupt bird migration patterns, and disturb the feeding and mating cycles of insects, bats, fish and salamanders. Bright lights interrupt the predator/prey relationship, creating an imbalance in the ecosystem. Owls will go elsewhere if an area is overly lit at night. “If we want to see animal life during the day, we need to control light pollution at night,” Jardin said. Smart lighting at night reduces energy consumption. Light at night is expensive, and drains economic resources. Satellite images of Earth show
light emissions into outer space where it isn’t being used, but instead wasted to the tune of $3 billion per year in the United States. By using timers, motion sensors, lower wattage and shields, smart homeowners can reduce their energy consumption while also reducing light pollution. Ace Hardware in Winthrop carries Dark Sky certified outdoor light fixtures and can special order items for home and business owners. Be a good neighbor and a smart homeowner by looking for ways to protect our dark skies, while reducing energy consumption and light pollution.
Resources To find out more about the Methow Dark Sky Coalition, and how to adopt dark sky practices, visit www. methowdarksky.org
Fixtures such as these direct light downward, illuminating the ground and surrounding area without creating glare or spilling light. IMAGES COURTESY INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION
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