Clearwater Ranch was created with the intention of being a dark sky community.

Following these principles will help preserve a Dark Sky for all residents to enjoy while not eliminating lighting for those that feel that they have to have it.

Country nights offer spectacular views of stars, meteor showers, comets, constellations and even the increasingly harder to see Milky Way. Light pollution, and the excessive and inappropriate use of artificial light at night, can affect human health, flora and fauna and our ability to experience the wonders of a starry night sky.

Light can be a pollutant - particularly when it escapes into your neighbor's home or yard

Most of us are familiar with air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution, but did you know that light can also be a pollutant?

Components of light pollution include:

Glare — excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort
Sky glow — brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas
Light trespass — light falling where it is not intended or needed
Clutter — bright, confusing, and excessive groupings of light sources

5 lighting principles to make your home dark sky friendly

1 – Does the light serve a clear and necessary purpose?

Light is useful for safe wayfinding and to help perform specific tasks. In the top image of the example below, the light illuminates only the entryway and stairs, where it is needed.

If you find that lights on your property are not necessary or useful, remove or disable them so that they are not accidentally turned on.

2 – Does the light fall only where it is needed?

Direct the light down, not up into the sky, and target your fixtures so that light does not spill beyond where it is needed. From eye level, the light source should be even with or recessed within the light fixture, ensuring that there is no visual discomfort, known as glare.

If the light spills beyond where it is needed, replace it with a shielded fixture or reorient the light so that it does not extend beyond where it is needed. Be especially mindful of light that spills up into the sky or onto other people’s property.

3 – Is the amount of light appropriate for the intended task?

Use the lowest lighting level needed to perform the intended task.

Excessive light can contribute to glare, actually making it harder to see things well.

If you find that the lighting level around your home is too bright for the task it is intended for, change the fixture’s bulb to one with a lower light output or consider incorporating dimmers.

4 – Is the light connected to active controls?

Switch off any exterior lights when possible. Light should only be used when needed, to reduce the impact on the environment and save electricity.

Outdoor lights that are necessary should be connected to a timer or motion sensor. Motion sensors should be set to times of five minutes or less.

Dusk-to-dawn sensors are strongly discouraged, as they release light when it is not needed.

Make sure sensor trigger sensitivity is set appropriately so that the fixtures light the area only when people are present.

5 – Is the light source warm in color?

Light bulbs manufactured today have a Kelvin (K) rating printed on the bulb or box.

Low Kelvin ratings (3000 K or less) are considered “warm” in appearance and generally emit less harmful blue light than higher-Kelvin ratings.

For home lighting, there are good options at 2700 K or less.

Consider going as warm as possible, especially if you are in an ecologically sensitive area.