Some people ask why we specialize in night sky friendly outdoor lighting. My response is, ‘Why would anybody want to install anything else?’ The truth is, the majority of outdoor lights currently offered for sale should not even be manufactured.

Why would anyone want to install an outdoor light fixture that put more light wastefully up into the night sky than usable light onto the ground beneath it? Why would anybody want to install a light fixture that would shine rudely into neighboring windows night after night?

Night sky friendly outdoor lights are the most efficient and environmentally responsible way to illuminate. Night sky friendly outdoor lights put all the light they produce onto the ground beneath them, where people are walking or driving. They prevent light from shining wastefully up into the night sky, reducing the damaging effects of light pollution in our communities. They also prevent light from trespassing onto neighboring properties.

So, the next time you’re in the market for outdoor lighting, be sure to consider the effects that your decision will have on your neighbors and the environment. Starry Night Lights offers the widest selection of night sky friendly outdoor lights anywhere.

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Ladies and Gentlemen, open up and say ‘aahhhh.’

The American Medical Association has hereby decreed light pollution as a detrimental source to our overall health. Three resolutions have been drafted and approved on June 15th, 2009 by the AMA. Take this prescription and read its instructions carefully:

RESOLVED That our AMA advocate that all future outdoor lighting be of energy efficient designs to reduce waste of energy and production of greenhouse gasses that result from this wasted energy use, and be it further

RESOLVED That our AMA develop and enact a policy that supports light pollution reduction efforts and glare reduction efforts at both the national and state levels; and be it further

RESOLVED That our AMA support that all future streetlights will be of a fully shielded design or similar non-glare design to improve the safety of our roadways for all, but especially vision impaired and older drivers.

Furthermore,  take as needed for pain.

- Doctor’s Orders.

This is inline with what we at Starry Night Lights have been saying for quite some time. Light pollution isn’t just about astronomers…. or energy waste… or nocturnal animals…. light pollution is a growing threat to YOUR health. As such, it should be taken seriously. All outdoor lights should be turned on only when and if needed. Follow our Outdoor Lighting Guidelines for a healthier, more beautiful and environmentally friendly home.

Today marks our commemoration of Earth Day 2009. Earth Day is a time to reflect on the bounty and wonder of our planet. It is a time to reflect on all it provides us. It is also a time to think about what we can do for Mother Earth. One only need turn on the news or read the paper to hear about the latest calamity facing our home planet. Climate change, global warming, peak oil just to name a few are some of the monumental problems she faces. And yet, through it all, our tiny planet is our home. It provides for over 6 billion of us. So, what can you do to help her out and show your appreciation for all she does for us? Well, anything at all. Big or little, there are things that you can do to gain a greater appreciation for her and take a bit of the load off of her.

Walk or bike on your next trip out. Transportation consumes huge quantities of our dwindling natural resources. By providing your own power, you’ll take a slight load off of her. You’ll also gain a greater appreciation for all the energy being consumed by our society on a daily basis.

Turn off unnecessary lighting, interior and exterior. If you’ve ever had to light your home using candles (like during a power outage, you already know just how much energy we regularly consume. So, on this Earth Day, turn off any and all unnecessary lighting. Outdoor lighting in particular is often left on from dusk to dawn. This is a huge drain on our energy resources. Poorly designed outdoor lights (the majority of what is installed worldwide), wastes energy and creates light pollution. Turn off your lights and, if the weather permits, go and sit outside in the dark tonight. The phase of the moon is tiny, with the moon rising just before sunrise. So, you’ll have a much better opportunity to see a star-filled sky tonight. You might even spot a few meteors in the process. This exercise (not really difficult, at all) is a great way to see how our tiny planet fits into the vastness of the cosmos.

Perhaps, you could simply go to the park and take a walk? You’d likely see some critters you don’t regularly see or hear some sounds you’re not familiar with. This all helps to gain a better appreciation for how wonderful our tiny planet is. Given that alternates are not available within a few light years, this looks to be the only home we’ll have for the foreseeable future. So, if we all show a bit more appreciation, and tread a bit lighter, we can make Mother Earth a nicer place to live for ours and future generations to come.

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Effective August 1, 2009, California will release a revision to its building code known as Title 24. Beginning in 1978 as California’s non-residential/commercial building code, California’s has presently saved approximately $56 billion dollars in both electrical and natural gas costs. Without a doubt California’s stringent building codes have reduced its overall electrical/natural gas imprint and analysts purport the state will save an additional $23 billion by 2010. Whilst the details regarding the new revision have not been released to the public yet, every revision has shown improvement in both cost effectiveness and efficiency.

For those California readers unsure which lighting solution adheres to Title 24’s code, Starry Night Lights has several brands to choose from. For instance, we have offerings from Sea Gull, SPJ, RAB, and Quoizel lighting with plenty of styles to compliment both your outdoor and indoor lighting endeavours.

The stimulus plan which Congress approved in February provides individuals with strong incentives for making ones home more energy efficient. By taking some easy steps in improving the sustainability of ones home the stimulus plan will assist in lowering ones taxes.

By performing certain energy-efficiency upgrades such as improvements in windows and insulation, one can receive substantial revenue in tax returns. This is because up to 30% of the total cost of the upgrades will be given back as credit, according to the stimulus plan. Thus, if one were to spend 3,000 dollars on the accepted type of windows, one could receive up to $900 as a return.

What’s covered?

Not any upgrade is covered, only four kinds are covered. This includes upgrades in what is termed as ‘home-shell improvements’ like insulation, windows and sealing. The reason these improvements are included is because of their ability to make the home more sustainable by closing or improving leaks. With less warm or cool air escaping the residence, less energy needs to be spent in cooling or warming ones home. In addition, energy efficient heating and cooling, ventilating, and HVAC systems, are also covered. Also, geothermal renewable energy technology is also ‘eligible’; this would include heating pumps, solar water heating, small wind generators and photovoltaic systems. The last improvement may come as a surprise; however hybrid and diesel cars are also covered on the stimulus plan.

Another exciting thing to keep in mind is the fact that the credit is not fixed on improvements that one makes at this time, they include ‘future’ improvements. Any home-shell or HVAC improvements made by December 31, 2010 are included. Improvements in renewable energy made by December 31, 2016, are also approved.

Some upgrades which one may have made last year can also be included. For instance, renewable energy improvements such as geothermal heat pumps and solar panels are covered. Unfortunately, home-shell improvements made last year are not included. In order to gain credit for any renewable energy improvement made in 2008, one must fill out I.R.S. Form 5695.

What step should I take first?

Perhaps the wisest step to take first would be to improve the insulation of ones home. By doing this one could reduce ones heating and cooling costs by up to 20%. This step should include an energy audit, which would assist in figuring out how much can be saved by improving the insulation of ones home.

Do not rush into installing solar panels. After all, solar panels are expensive and if ones home is not insulated correctly, the benefit of solar panels would be wasted to some degree. However after taking the correct steps towards ‘greenifying’ ones home, solar panels should certainly be considered.

These measures are still very new and tax preparers may still be unaware of them. Thus, it would be wise to make sure ones improvements meet the correct criteria. This can be done by checking the packaging of particular products, or doing some research by looking through the manufacturers’ WebPages.

Here are some useful links in performing this endeavor:
- The Alliance’s Website: ase.org
- The Tax Incentives Assistance Project: energytaxincentives.org
- Energy Star (info on qualifying products): energystar.gov

Starry Night Light’s is a provider of Energy Star approved products, thus lighting fixtures bought from Starry Night Lights meet the criteria! Look through our merchandise and find the best fixture for your personal taste and receive tax credit in return! Who knew going green could put so much green back into your wallet!!!

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“Athens needs a stronger law because the version passed does not do enough to keep bright lights from shining into drivers’ eyes and neighbors’ windows.”

On Tuesday Athens-Clarke Commission passed (8-2) restrictions on bright outside lights. The newly elected law:

“Restricts newly installed lights from shining across property lines and requires them to be pointed downward in most cases, but it does not affect existing lights under most circumstances; requires new fixtures to be fully shielded so they shine downward, not up into the sky. New spotlights and floodlights must be pointed down at a 45-degree angle. It also regulates how far and how brightly light can shine across property lines and how signs can be lit up.”

Yet intrusive lights won’t begin to grow dim anytime soon – since the law has no affect in most cases on existing lights. Some commissioners wanted to require property owners to point existing lights down or mandate that they turn the lights off after a certain hour, whilst other officials stated how such measures were unenforceable – although other cities have similar laws nationwide. E.g. Flagstaff, Arizona.

For instance, Commissioner Kelly Girtz’s proposed tighter regulations by requiring a curfew for most outdoor lights to be shut off after-hours. Unfortunately, his proposal failed to pass (4-6). Whilst this result may seem bad, consider Commissioner Girtz’s tenacity. Since 2001, Girtz and other commissioners have worked on and off for eight years to pass a lighting ordinance for Athens-Clarke. Eight years. Congratulations on the victory Commissioner Girtz! Whilst a small one, you’ve spoken for the public’s growing interest in lighting ordinances and disinterest in light pollution.

Spring is just around the corner and with it, the need to brighten up ones wardrobe and home. As things become green once again and the flowers begin to bloom, there are far more reasons to spend more time outdoors. One of the greatest ways to utilize the beauty of this season around ones home is to install landscape lighting. By doing so, the excitement of the season is not limited merely to the hours of daylight. Spring into action and make your garden and outdoor areas more people friendly!

Starry Night Lights has recently expanded its product line to include Volt Landscape Lighting, the ideal night-sky friendly lighting fixtures, perfect for any outdoor lighting need.Volt fixtures come in brass or aluminum in a wide variety of finishes and work wonderfully for both lighting needs and decorative purpose. The items are designed to be sturdy, but yet are not overly large or bulky. Together with their appearance and environmentally conscious design, these fixtures should be strongly considered when creating ones outdoor paradise.

Selecting the lighting of ones home can be daunting, but it should not be. It should be an exciting time, full of promise for a fresher and more pleasant living experience. Luckily, even if one decides in a later period to change or update ones outdoor fixtures, Volt fixtures are in-stock for immediate shipment (24-48 hours). Checkout our landscape lighting tips for a few things to keep in mind as you expand your living spaces into the outdoors.

Starry Night Lights is dedicated to providing individuals with the necessary tools to improve their lives and homes in an environmentally fashion, by providing customers with the newest lighting innovations in environmentally mindful designs. Through taking small steps toward a better environmental future, the possibilities for larger and grander steps will become available. Put your trust in Starry Night Lights and be kind to both the environment and your wallet! Checkout these landscape lighting tips for a few ideas to keep in mind as you expand your living space.

Turn out. Take action.

Be part of this historic event.
March 28, 2009, 8:30 pm local time

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

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On March 31st, 2007 the city of Sydney, Australia in conjunction with the WWF took a stand against climate change. At 8pm, 2.2 million residents turned off their power for one hour. Their single stand against climate change has led to a global stand. In 2008, 50 million people from around the globe participated (36 million Americans). Whilst an hour may not seem significant, it symbolizes an idea: take a global stand on climate change. In this special hour, residents within major metropolitan cities may perhaps see the night sky unpolluted with light.

Nope, not a chic gown or stylish evening attire; we are talking about the GlareBuster Crawford Series Wall Lantern! This lighting fixture is an ideal choice for outdoor lighting, both for its appealing appearance and its environmental protection qualities. Choosing the most appropriate lighting for your home can be a daunting task, especially if one seeks to choose an option which caters to both ones individual taste and the protection of the environment. Fortunately, by choosing the Crawford Wall Lantern, one cannot go wrong on either front.

Starry Night Lights is delighted to add the Crawford Series Wall Lantern to its vast merchandise and is offering at this time a special introductory price for this superb fixture. The Crawford Series Wall Lantern is available in two finishes, antiqued bronze and black. This fixture also comes in three sizes, varying in height; these are 25”, 21” and 17”. It’s a wonderful choice for any residential lighting need.

The Crawford Series Wall Lantern is named after the executive director of the IDA, Dr. David L. Crawford, who established the IDA in 1988 with his colleague, Dr. Tim Hunter. The IDA, as proudly stated on their webpage, seeks “to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting”. As a result, the IDA has become one of the leading fighters against light pollution and has made significantly positive steps toward improving this dilemma.

With the significance of this historical background in mind, the Crawford Series Wall Lantern was created. Innovatively designed to corporate the IDA mentality and modern stylistic décor, it combines the best of both worlds!

The long sleek elegant design of the Crawford Series Wall Lantern is an attractive alternative to plain outdoor lighting fixtures. Be sure to keep this fixture in mind when selecting your residential lighting. It is both IDA and Starry Night Lights approved!

Starry Night Lights is excited to tell you about the latest addition to our product line, Quoizel Lighting. Quoizel creates more than lighting and home accessories. They create timeless pieces designed with you in mind. At the top of the list of timeless beauties you’ll find a large selection of TIffany Lamps. These beauties are literally works of art, the result of painstaking effort by skilled craftsmen. Checkout the accompanying video to get a feel for what we now have to offer. And, in case you’re wondering… the awesome background music comes from a good friend of mine, Tom Benoit, checkout his site and music when you have a minute.