After nearly six months of renovations Stone Mountain Park is ready for Memorial Day weekend! The Laser show lawn has new grass and all the buildings on the lawn have been removed. The park has widened the walkways and added lights. Laser show sound and light towers have been razed, with updated production equipment tucked into the bordering woods on each side. The nearly 200 new lights are all LED fixtures, consuming less energy and creating less light pollution. For the first time, the lights are tied into generators that will automatically start up during power loss.
Stone Mountain Park, a family destination located in Atlanta, Georgia, just retrofitted their laser show to LED fixtures. It is not corollary to think that if one has LED fixtures, that there will be less light pollution. The key word to look for in lighting retrofits is ‘shielding’ or ‘shielded’ lighting. Without proper shielding, even the most efficient light bulb would still emit light upward rather than downward. In essence, having just energy efficient light fixtures by virtue, does not mean it will prevent light pollution. Perhaps the story implies shielding, I’m willing to accept that, but it’s important to address that lighting fixtures must have proper shielding to eliminate light pollution. It’s all in the fixture. Properly shielded fixtures + high efficient light bulbs + motion sensors = best and most efficient lighting system available.
Let there be night!
