LIGHT POLLUTION IS COSTLY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
BY GILLIAN BRUNETTE HUNTSVILLE FORESTER

Delta Grandview Resort's naturalist, Robin Tapley, has a vested interest in keeping light pollution to a minimum.

As curator of the Echo Valley Observatory, which lies south of the town, and a keen conservationist, Tapley wants to ensure that the Town and area developers,are fully aware not only of the dangers of light pollution, but of the alternatives available to protect the night sky.

His two photographs on this page are positive proof that dark sky lighting does make a difference. The photos show the new Wal-Mart site with the original lighting and the same site after dark-sky lighting had been installed.

As part of the site plan agreement, Wal-Mart was to install dark sky friendly lighting. After concerns were raised by observant residents the developers, First Pro admitted that there had been a mix-up and the wrong lights had been ordered. The situation was quickly rectified.

"At Wal-Mart the problem was addressed, but the issue did bring to light the effects of light said Tapley. "I talked at length with (astronomer) Todd Carlson and James Solecki (Integra Works Landscape Lighting) before Wal-Mart went in. We were all very nervous about the lighting, so we appreciate what they [Wal-Mart] did to address the problem."

The Echo Bay Observatory was opened in September of 2000 and over 7,000 people visited since then. The site covers 100 acres and is a designated dark sky zone. "There are more and more of these sprouting up everywhere," said Tapley.

The Torrance Barrens Conservation and Dark Sky Reserve in South Muskoka became the first of its kind in Canada and one of the first in the world. 'Right now if you drive by there is nothing there. In 50 years from now, as development continues, Torrance Barrens will be the place to appreciate a dark sky," Tapley said.

The David Dunlop Observatory in Aurora is the opposite: 'It once stood in the boonies and now it is completely surrounded by light pollution and and can be used only minimally astronomically."

In recent years the Hwy. 60 corridor was widened and the lighting has made a huge difference to the Huntsville skies, Tapley continued. "From the observatory you can now look toward Huntsville and see a line of lights that you didn't used to see. The solution would have easy: just put in full cut-off lights along the corridor. I don't why they didn't do that."

Changing the lights now would probably be prohibitively expensive, Tapley added, suggesting that every other light, would be switched off after midnight. "Do they all need to be on? It's our tax money that is going up into the sky. I realize there is a safety issue, but after certain time they could be shut off."

Another site where light pollution could have been a problem is at the new Hwy. 60 weigh scale, but that was addressed in development stage.

"I was involved with the lighting at the weigh scale and what we have there are lower light standards with full cut-offs are not on 24 hours a day."

Tapley said what frustrates astronomers the most is the fact the technology is out there to deal with light pollution. There are also cost and health issues consider.

"If you look at a light bulb, half of the light goes upwards if is not properly covered. That's a huge amount of energy wasted into space. We have the technology to harness that wasted light. In the long run, on save energy because fewer lights would be needed."

According to the dark sky experts, light pollution is not only a cultural, environmental and a cost issue, but there is mounting evidence within the medical community that physiological human functions are disrupted by the proliferation of nighttime lighting, particularly in urban centres where, in essence, night no longer exists. Tapley is not against development as long as it is sustainable and responsible,. "We need economic growth, but if we are not careful, one day we will walk outside and there will be no more sky.

"We need to make sure that the technologies that are out there to protect against light pollution are brought to the attention of developers and politicians and that they utilize them to the utmost. If we work together, we can keep Muskoka unique, and if any developer or politician wants to experience a dark sky and understand its true value, I extend an invitation to them to visit the observatory."