Tips:

 For quality lighting, more is not always better! Use the lowest
wattage needed.

 Turn off or remove lights that aren’t serving a useful function.

 Redirect fixed lights or put shields on them to minimize

LIG HTING
scattering and glare.

The way it ought to be.

For more information on how
you can help make your neigh-
 Use a motion sensor on a security light instead of leaving it on
all night.
borhood ‘night sky friendly’,
 Compact fluorescent (CFL) lights are available for almost any Douglas County Government
application, and save a lot of energy.
http://www.douglas.co.us/Departments/Community
Development/Documents and Regulations/Zoning Resolution/
Section 30
Dark skies and starry nights belong to everyone,
Energy Costs: but bad outdoor lighting often prevents us from
International Dark Sky Association
Provides information on light pollution and what can be done to
enjoying them.
mitigate it.
single 60
watt incandescent on all night:
http://www.darksky.org/ Fortunately, the beauty of our night skies can
$18/yr
be protected if we take a few simple steps to
Sustainable Futures Society of Colorado improve the quality of our residential lighting.
same brightness
single 18 watt Provides a guideline for residential lighting to improve the Let’s make Douglas County the model for good
compact fluorescent quality of exterior as well as interior lighting and save energy.
http://www.sustainablecolorado.org/Best_Practices/
outdoor lighting and protect our night skies.
with timer: $2/yr Holiday_Neighborhood/Energy___Lighting/
ResidentialLightingGuidelines06-30-03FINAL.pdf The County’s lighting regulations for commercial
properties have increased their value and made
D i d y o u k n ow : Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy them more attractive. Now we can do the same
 Electric lighting at night disturbs sleep patterns and can Provides consumers with various ways to save energy in and for our homes and neighborhoods.
affect your health. around the home.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/save energy/
 Light at night has detrimental effects on plants and A few changes can improve your exterior
animals that depend on natural darkness for their
©2006 Douglas County Government
lighting. Not only will this make the whole
health. Pets don’t need light to see at night. Planning Division neighborhood look better, but it can also cut
 Over-bright lights are a safety hazard. Going from
100 Third Street, Suite 220 your energy bill and help the environment.
Castle Rock, Colorado 80104
dark to bright can make it hard to see steps or curbs, 303-660-7460
especially as we age.
©2007 Douglas County Government
How you can upgrade your
home’s exterior lighting –
Step 1 – Take a survey of the exterior lighting
on your property, and note the purpose for
each light. Does it make a pathway or steps
easier to see? Is it for safety or security
concerns? Is it to illuminate a feature of
the house or landscaping? Bright lights that
create glare and shadows result in a less
safe environment than low levels of evenly
distributed light.

Step 2 – Go out at night and walk around

your property. See how much light is spilling
onto the street or into the neighbors’ yards.
optional optional optional optional
Note which lights are causing the problems.
Barn lights – if Garage door Porch and entry Paths and Decks and Landscape and
possible, don’t – may not need – use shielded sidewalks porches – use architectural
Step 3 – For each of these lights, check out use them. They a light at all or fixtures to light – use small, shielded fixtures features – make
the alternatives. Do you really need them? simply advertise the light does steps, and to see low step-lights to illuminate sure they are
If so, there are many low glare and low where you are, not need to be faces clearly. Turn to illuminate outdoor living properly aimed
and don’t really on all night. Car lights off or put long walkways spaces without so they don’t
wattage options. Some of them may even increase security. headlights will them on a timer or steps. Solar glare. Turn them cause glare
save you money on your energy bill! They are also certainly get or motion sensor. powered fixtures off when not in outside the
huge sources you in the door. may be an option use. property. Turn
of glare. Turn A well-shielded if power is not in them off when
Step 4 – Plan to upgrade the exterior lighting them off when light at the side the area. not in use, or
of your house, beginning with the fixtures not needed, or of the door will put on a timer.
where the light source is visible outside your put them on a minimize glare
timer or motion and make it
property. sensor if possible. easier to enter
Existing barn the garage. Turn
Step 5 – Spread the word. Be sure to say lights can be lights off with a
shielded. timer or motion
thanks to the neighbors who have made your
sensor.
neighborhood more pleasant at night by
reducing glare.