At their annual meeting last week, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced a grant from the National Science Foundation. Now supported by the NSF, the IDA seeks to preserve dark skies for the benefit of both professional and amateur astronomers, as well as the general public, by promoting outdoor lighting that focuses light only where it's needed -- toward the ground. The grant totals $150,000, and it will be given to promote organizational development of the IDA.

Experimental image modeling light pollution in the continental United States. This is based on the location and population (1990 census) of significant U.S. cities and towns. Photo: IDA

"The improper use of outdoor lighting is a serious problem for astronomers, the economy, as well as the general public," said Tom Gergely, NSF's director of electromagnetic spectrum management programs. "The nation's leading astronomers agree that, if we want to continue our exploration of the skies, we need systematic efforts to address light pollution. At the same time, communities and businesses can benefit from substantial energy savings, and the public may regain access to the beauty of the night sky."

The organization works with communities, businesses, and professional lighting experts to develop strategies that both reduce the light pollution that hinders observations from optical telescopes and save energy for businesses and communities. It has been estimated that proper lighting -- which eliminates light directed skyward that contributes nothing to safety -- could result in savings of over a billion dollars yearly for the United States as a whole.

IDA's work is performed almost entirely by volunteers. This grant from NSF will help the organization expand its membership, develop a firm financial basis, and further develop public awareness of practical solutions to light pollution.

Founded in 1988 as a nonprofit educational organization, the International Dark-Sky Association promotes quality outdoor lighting to control glare, to conserve energy, and to preserve the beauty of our night skies. IDA also works to protect radio astronomers from ever increasing radio frequency interference.

In the past ten years, IDA has gained members from all 50 states and 70 countries, and it is growing rapidly. Working with thousands of volunteers around the world, IDA is committed to solving the problems of light pollution by raising awareness of better outdoor lighting techniques. Everyone wins with energy savings, reduced glare, less light trespass, and improved safety.

A view of the United States at night with light pollution from a U.S. Air Force DMSP weather satellite. Photo: NOAA

IDA's members include lighting designers, government planners and zoning officials, environmentalists, lighting manufacturers, astronomers, and other concerned citizens. This broad based membership yields very strong bipartisan support in implementing solutions.

Last summer, IDA coordinated a meeting of the International Astronomical Union to address the problem of light pollution. Held at the United Nations facilities in Vienna, Austria, this special symposium included scientists, engineers, and teachers from 25 countries. Humans are cutting themselves off from knowledge about the rest of the universe by enveloping the Earth in a fog of light and radio emissions.

"These problems are global in scale and effect, and long-term in nature. International efforts are needed to resolve them, as the UN already has done for the oceans and the Antarctic continent," said Dr. Johannes Andersen, General Secretary of the IAU. The United Nations UNISPACE III conference was briefed on these serious problems, and more action is anticipated soon.

The problem of light pollution affects much more than astronomers. Wasted light costs billions of dollars that otherwise could be spent for more productive uses. One report presented at the symposium, showed, for example, that wasted light measured from space costs at least US$720,000 annually in Vienna, $2.9 million in London, $4.2 million in Washington, D.C., and $13.6 million in New York City.

Already, many world-wide communities are facing the problem of light pollution and taking action to solve it. For example, the governor of New Mexico signed the "Night Sky Protection Act" on April 6, 1999. In a similar move last summer, Texas Governor George W. Bush signed HB 916, "Regulation of Outdoor Lighting for All State Funded Activities." The problem is being addressed internationally, with new light pollution laws in Japan, Italy, Australia and Germany.