Light pollution is threatening the night skies of Gros Morne National Park. While the park offers a brilliant night sky for stargazing, the light from a newly opened inn has begun to pierce the evening darkness. Light pollution is a growing problem worldwide, as urban lighting continues to increase and fill up the night. However, strategies like dark sky ordinances and improved lighting design can help address light pollution and ensure streets are bright while protecting the night sky. Landscape architects and designers have an important role to play in offering creative solutions to light pollution through informed lighting design.

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NEIL DAWE + PAMELA MURPHY, TRACT CONSULTING INC.
THE GROS MORNE CHALLENGE:
Is Newfoundland IT WAS ANOTHER brilliant fall evening The Dark Sky Association categorizes
immune from in Bonne Bay, Gros Morne National Park,
with the stars providing a potpourri of
light pollution as Clutter, Glare, Light
Trespass and Urban Sky Glow. “Clutter” is
light pollution? sparkle. To the south, the silhouette of the bright, confusing and excessive groupings
mountains, illuminated by the waters of of light sources, commonly found in over-lit
Western Arm, invited welcome relaxation and urban areas. “Glare” is excessive brightness
contemplation. But tonight something was that causes visual discomfort. “Light
amiss, the tranquility ruptured. Sharp shafts trespass” is light falling where it is not
of white light pierced the evening sky: the intended, wanted or needed. “Urban sky
harsh light that of a recently opened Inn – a glow” is the brightening of the night sky
place developed to allow visitors to enjoy the over inhabited areas.
splendor of this marvelous place. Such irony! Today, rather than identifying a light
I thought. Surely we can do better! bulb according to the power it consumes,
Indeed, light polluted skies are ubiquitous. lumens identify a light bulb’s perceived
Since Mr. Edison’s bulb turned Chicago into brightness. Dark Sky ordinances limit
the “white city” at the World’s Fair in 1893, the lumens (luminous flux) per acre, and
our cities have become increasingly “white.” ensure streetlights are shielded to focus
Today, the light from large cities is visible up to light downward, to make streets brighter
one hundred miles away, and it affects about but the sky darker. This strategy, and
60 per cent of our world’s people and about other new planning and design approaches
one-fifth of the world’s terrain. We are led to for neighbourhoods can help control the
believe that new lighting technology uses less misuse of light.
energy and is environmentally friendly, so we There are many inventive solutions to
use more lighting and think it’s safe. explore: for example, research confirms
that good planting design on city streets
WHITE NIGHTS can reduce glare and increase visibility –
Yet we are compromising our existence and this is just one informative nugget
as diurnal creatures, according to Verlyn that can be shared with our clients. The
Klinkenborg, author of the National Geographic emerging role of landscape architects,
article, “Our Vanishing Night.” We’ve then, is to offer information and creative
1 GROS MORNE SKY 2 SUNSET AT BROOM engineered the night to receive us by filling it options to their clients and communities, to
POINT FISHING EXHIBIT | 1 LE CIEL DE with light, yet much of that light is wasted. use lighting design professionals, and to be
GROS MORNE 2 COUCHER DE SOLEIL À Light pollution represents an estimated $2 in the forefront of inclusive lighting design.
L’EXPOSITION DE PÈCHE DE BROOM POINT billion per annum in lost energy, even if we
PHOTOS 1 SHELDON STONE/PARKS CANADA 2 DALE
WILSON/PARKS CANADA | 1 SHELDON STONE / PARCS ignore its impacts on human health and the info@tractconsulting.com
CANADA 2 DALE WILSON/PARCS CANADA environment. www.tractconsulting.com
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