8/8/2019 DC Planning Lighting Brochure

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Tips :For quality lighting, more is not always better! Use the lowestwattage needed.

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

Redirect xed lights or put shields on them to minimize

scattering and glare.

Use a motion sensor on a security light instead of leaving it onall night.

Compact uorescent (CFL) lights are available for almost any

application, and save a lot of energy.

Energy Costs :

Did you know:Electric lighting at night disturbs sleep patterns and can

affect your health.

Light at night has detrimental effects on plants and

animals that depend on natural darkness for their

health. Pets don’t need light to see at night.

Over-bright lights are a safety hazard. Going from

dark to bright can make it hard to see steps or curbs,

especially as we age.

Dark skies and starry nights belong to everyone,

but bad outdoor lighting often prevents us from

enjoying them.

Fortunately, the beauty of our night skies can

be protected if we take a few simple steps to

improve the quality of our residential lighting.

Let’s make Douglas County the model for good

outdoor lighting and protect our night skies.

The County’s lighting regulations for commercial

properties have increased their value and madethem more attractive. Now we can do the same

for our homes and neighborhoods.

A few changes can improve your exterior

lighting. Not only will this make the whole

neighborhood look better, but it can also cut

 your energy bill and help the environment.

The w a y i t o ugh t t o be .

LIGHTING

Douglas County Government

http://www.douglas.co.us/Departments/Community

Development/Documents and Regulations/Zoning Resolution/

Section 30

International Dark Sky Association

Provides information on light pollution and what can be done to

mitigate it.

http://www.darksky.org/

Sustainable Futures Society o Colorado

Provides a guideline for residential lighting to improve the

quality of exterior as well as interior lighting and save energy.

http://www.sustainablecolorado.org/Best_Practices/

Holiday_Neighborhood/Energy___Lighting/

ResidentialLightingGuidelines06-30-03FINAL.pdf 

Ofce o Energy Efciency and Renewable Energy

Provides consumers with various ways to save energy in and

around the home.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/save energy/

©2006 Douglas County GovernmentPlanning Division

100 Third Street, Suite 220

Castle Rock, Colorado 80104303-660-7460

For more information on how

 you can help make your neigh-

borhood ‘night sky friendly’,

same brightnesssingle 18 wattcompact uorescent

with timer:

single 60watt incandescent on all night:

$18/yr

$2/yr

©2007 Douglas County Government

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optional optional optional optional

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 securityconcerns? Is it to illuminate a feature ofthe house or landscaping? Bright lights that

create glare and shadows result in a lesssafe environment than low levels of evenlydistributed light.

Step 2 – Go out at night and walk around

your property. See how much light is spillingonto the street or into the neighbors’ yards.Note which lights are causing the problems.

Step 3 – For each of these lights, check out

the alternatives. Do you really need them?If so, there are many low glare and lowwattage options. Some of them may even

save you money on your energy bill!

Step 4 – Plan to upgrade the exterior lightingof your house, beginning with the xtures

where the light source is visible outside yourproperty.

Step 5 – Spread the word. Be sure to say

thanks to the neighbors who have made your

neighborhood more pleasant at night by

reducing glare.

Barn lights – if 

possible, don’t

use them. Theysimply advertise

where you are,and don’t reallyincrease security.They are alsohuge sources

of glare. Turnthem off whennot needed, orput them on a

timer or motionsensor if possible.

Existing barn

lights can beshielded.

Garage door

– may not need

a light at all orthe light doesnot need to beon all night. Carheadlights willcertainly getyou in the door.

A well-shieldedlight at the sideof the door willminimize glare

and make it

easier to enterthe garage. Turnlights off with atimer or motionsensor.

Porch and entry– use shielded

xtures to light

steps, and to see

faces clearly. Turnlights off or put

them on a timeror motion sensor.

Paths andsidewalks

– use small,

low step-lights

to illuminatelong walkways

or steps. Solar

powered xtures

may be an option

if power is not inthe area.

Decks and

porches – use

shielded xtures

to illuminateoutdoor livingspaces without

glare. Turn themoff when not inuse.

Landscape and

architecturalfeatures – make

sure they areproperly aimed

so they don’tcause glareoutside theproperty. Turn

them off whennot in use, orput on a timer.