TAAS Web Page

Dark Sky Issues

The Parable of the Boiled Frogs

Let this serve as a metaphor for the slow loss of the majesty of our skies to commercial and residential light pollution: Once upon a time a man from a distant land wished to created a delicacy of boiled frogs for his supper. He prepared his pot of boiling water and then attempted to drop the frogs into the pot. Each time he did so, the energetic frogs leaped out before they could become his supper. After several attempts, he threw out the hot water and filled the pot with pleasantly warm water and tossed the frogs in. They happily swam about thinking they had found a new home. The man then slowly added twigs to the fire, increasing the heat bit by bit until the frogs all fell into a stupor and then into death. They became a tasty meal for the man and his wife. In other words--the scary thing about light pollution is that it steals our skies so slowly and stealthily that we have fallen into a stupor! Let's start hopping!

Dark Sky Q and A

Q. What are Dark Sky Issues?
A. Issues that deal with the abatement of light pollution through education and legislation to restrict commercial and residential lighting.
Q. What kind of legislation does NM currently have regarding light pollution?
A. The Night Sky Protection Act is our state's legislation. See New Mexico Statutes, New Mexico Statutes Unannotated, Chapter 74, Article 12. Individual municipalities may enact more stringent codes. See below.
Q. What organizations deal with Dark Sky issues?
A. The premier organization is a non-profit Arizona based, international organization called International Dark Sky Association (IDA). See below. Many astronomical societies also deal with these issues.
Q. Is TAAS involved in Dark Sky issues?
A. Yes, TAAS has always been involved. The Board of Directors created a special interest group, DarkSky NM, on April 13, 2000.
Q. How can I join DarkSky NM?
A. You must be a current TAAS member. Send a check to TAAS for $5 at PO Box 50581, Albuquerque, NM 87181-0581. On the check denote DarkSky NM Dues. Do to at least one educational presentation (slide show, speak to a school group, talk to a reporter, etc.) The goal is to build a team of informed educators.
Q. What if I don't have time to make an educational presentation?
A. Complete a 10 Letter Writing Campaign to the Albuquerque City Council. See below addresses of councilors. Inform them of New Mexico dark sky legislation. Include a copy of the Night Sky Protection Act. Email is good but postal mail more effective. Report your 10 contacts to darksky@taas.org.
Q. Why must I be a TAAS member to join?
A. As a sub-group of TAAS, DarkSky NM is eligible to receive this link on the website, funding from the board, space in the newsletter and access to a pre-existing listserv.
Q. When are the meetings?
A. We have meetings in conjunction with a Santa Fe group, Volunteers for the New Mexico Night Sky. Check the TAAS newsletter for dates and times of meetings.
Q. Will DarkSky NM become politically active?
A. Yes, as the board approves and the membership wishes. Non-profit organizations MAY be politically active within guidelines. Our emphasis is on education.
Q. What are our current projects?
A. We are working toward more effective local ordinances on outdoor lighting in Albuquerque and surrounding areas.

Want to Help?

Our current writing campaign is targeted at reminding City of Albuquerque Councilors and Bernalillo County Commissioners that we have a statewide code for lighting, and that we citizens would like to reclaim our night sky. All letters and emails that you can send would be helpful! Here is the web page of all of the Albuquerque Commissioners, including phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

The Official Albuquerque City Website
The Bernalillo County Commissioner's Website

Click image for North America at night, in color

David Penasa's Dark Sky Handout

Dark Sky Information Handout – New Mexico & Albuquerque Area 03-22-10

David A. Penasa, PE, University of New Mexico, Physical Plant Dept.-Engineering & Energy Services Div.,
dpenasa@unm.edu, (505) 277-1141 / Fax (505) 277-2385
Member of: IESNA (2006-2007 President of Rio Grande Section); NMHPA Night Sky Program’s Advisory
Board; Member of IDA (was on Board of Directors 2002-2008); and, the City of Albuquerque’s 2000-2001

Night Sky Protection Task Force

• Here are some basics on light pollution and good outdoor lighting, plus web sites for some of the existing codes
and ordinances that address outdoor lighting in the Albuquerque area and New Mexico.

What is Light Pollution? Collectively, it is:
• Sky glow - destroys mankind's view of the universe (a national heritage)
• Light trespass - someone's outdoor lighting encroaches on our property
• Glare - blinds us and reduces visibility (glare is never good.)
• Clutter - trashes the nighttime environment (causes confusion as well)
• Energy waste – several billion $ /yr (est.) in USA alone
• Health issue - light at night has adverse health affects on humans and animals
In summary: "Light pollution is any adverse effect of artificial light including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light
clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste."

Design Criteria for Good Outdoor Lighting
• Comply with applicable codes/outdoor lighting ordinance(s)
• Design in accordance with IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) recommendations
• Follow IDA (International Dark-Sky Association) information and guidelines
But, more generally, determine if it is really necessary to be lit and then apply these four elementary concepts:
- shield it,
- point it down,
- don't use more than you need,
- turn it off when you are done and not there.

Industry Design Guidelines (make sure your local engineers & architects are aware of and follow these!)
IESNA RP-33-99 Lighting for Exterior Environments $45.00 (probably most helpful document - purchase first)
IESNA RP-20-98 Lighting for Parking Facilities $45.00
IESNA RP-8-00 Roadway Lighting $30.00
IESNA RP-6-01 Sports Lighting $40.00
IESNA RP-28-98 Lighting and the Visual Environment for Senior Living $40.00
IESNA TM-11-00 Light Trespass: Research, Results and Recommendations $20
IESNA TM-10-00 Addressing Obtrusive Light (Urban Sky Glow and Light Trespass) in Conjunction with Roadway
Lighting $10
(To obtain the above documents, contact the IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) at http://
www.iesna.org or (212) 248-5000. Ask for the publications department.)

FAA Advisory Circular AC 70/7460-1K Obstruction Marking and Lighting
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/
b993dcdfc37fcdc486257251005c4e21/$FILE/AC70_7460_1K.pdf

International Dark-Sky Association (IDA): http://www.darksky.org/
The IDA's vision is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality
outdoor lighting. Their goal is to educate everyone about the value of a pleasant nighttime environment of dark skies,
and of quality outdoor lighting, with all of its advantages. See the following:

Information Sheets: http://www.darksky.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=58823
Specifier Bulletins: http://www.darksky.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=67536&orgId=idsa
Best Choice Lighting Fixtures: http://www.nextrionet.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=56422&orgId=idsa

Fixture Seal of Approval Program: http://www.nextrionet.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=56421&orgId=idsa

Dark Sky Friendly Light Fixtures & Shielding - sources:
IDA’s Good Lighting Fixtures List: http://www.darksky.org/lighting/
RAB Shades: http://www.rabweb.com/common/catalog/pages/WSHADE.pdf
Green Earth Lighting (formerly Outdoor Lighting Associates) (GlareBuster, Parshields, Hubbell Skycap, etc.): http://
www.greenearthlighting.com/
GE Lighting (dropped lens/flat lens cobrahead streetlight shields):
https://secure.ge-lightingsystems.com/gels01/productcentral/htmls/5_0_178_catalog_156.html
Starry Nights Lights: http://www.starrynightlights.com/
Light Wraps by DPI: http://www.light-wraps.com
Evluma (LED retrofit for MV/HPS barnyard lights): http://evluma.com
Dark Sky Reflector (retrofit for globes & acorns): http://www.edee.com/reflector.htm

Dark Sky Slide Show – helpful presentation
http://www.darksky.org/resources/protecting-our-night-environment

New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act:
http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&2.0 (search New Mexico Statutes,
New Mexico Statutes Unannotated, Chapter 74, Article 12.) Went into effect January 1, 2000. Compliance is
required by Article 290.40 of the 2005 New Mexico Electrical Code (NMEC). Enforcement is the responsibility
Construction Industries Division (CID) of the State’s Construction Industry Commission (CIC) for State projects
and local jurisdiction for other projects. Concerned about enforcement? Contact Lisa Martinez, Director of
CID, (505) 476-4689, Lisa.Martinez@state.nm.us, or Rem Pacheco, Electrical Bureau Chief, (505) 476-4679,
Rem.Pacheco@state.nm.us, to express your concerns. Or, attend the next regular meeting of the Construction
Industries Commission (CIC). See http://www.rld.state.nm.us/cid/News/news.htm for next meeting.

New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance (NMHPA) - Night Sky Program:
The Night Sky Program will initiate action on issues concerning light pollution and New Mexico's night sky,
and will establish educational, legislative, informational and outreach efforts to reverse light pollution in our
state, and will promote pristine night skies. See: See http://www.nmheritage.org/sky/. The program will act
as a clearinghouse for counties, municipalities, homeowners' associations, and other jurisdictional entities that
have existing light regulations or ordinances or are looking for resources to develop such regulations. They
have a 16 page booklet, "Consumer Guide to Night Sky Friendly Lighting," (http://www.nmheritage.org/files/
NightSky_Friendly_Lighting_Guide2.pdf) which serves as an introduction to the phenomenon of light pollution, its
consequences and solutions, and a tool for night sky advocates. Contact the Night Sky Program at NMHPA (505)
989-3696/(505) 989-7745/(866) 700-6647.

City of Albuquerque:
http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/New Mexico/albuqwin/cityofalbuquerquenewmexicocodeofordinanc?
f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:albuquerque_nm_mc$anc=que_nm
See the City of Albuquerque Code of Ordinances, in particular, Chapter 14, Zoning, Planning and Building. There
are many lighting related items in both Article 1 (Uniform Administrative Code and Technical Codes) and Article
16 (Zoning Code). See “14-16-3-9 Area Lighting Regulations”, “14-16-3-5 General Sign Regulations”, and “14-
16-3-18 General Building And Site Design Regulations For Non-Residential Uses”, among others. A Mayor-
appointed Night Sky Protection Task Force submitted proposed outdoor lighting-related amendments to both
Uniform Administrative Code and Zoning Code on March 1, 2001. The amendments were reviewed by the City’s
Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) until mid 2002 and then they expired due to exceeding a time limit. In
October 2002, some amendments were passed regarding height limitations for light fixtures within parking areas.
(Go to the City’s Legislative Information Portal http://www.cabq.gov/council/legportal.html that tracks Council
action and search for Bill O-02-19.) Gas fueling canopy lighting requirements were added in 2004. Interest by
the City was renewed in the Spring of 2004, and a Night Sky Protection Ordinance (text amendments to the zoning
code) was again considered. At the March 17, 2005 EPC Hearing, the amendments (Project # 1003718, Case #
04EPC 1579) were deferred until the January 19, 2006 Hearing. On January 19, 2006, the text amendments (and

Staff Report) were withdrawn. Contact Richard Dineen (924-3352, rdineen@cabq.gov), Director, Planning Dept,
for further information. The City also has other lighting regulations specified in the Coors Corridor Plan and the
Alameda Boulevard Design Overlay Zone documents, among others. See such documents at http://www.cabq.gov/
planning/publications/

Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque:
http://www.villr.com/documents/ZoningOrdinanceFinal102303.pdf
See the following section for Dark Skies regulations in the zoning ordinance:
Section 19 - Dark Skies
(The zoning ordinance was updated, effective May 2003. Quite a few changes were made to prior Dark Skies
regulations.)

Bernalillo County:
Bernalillo Co. Municipal Code
http://www.bernco.gov/live/departments.asp?dept=2347&submenuid=4250
Light Pollution Ordinances for 1) the East Mountain Area and 2) North Albuquerque Acres and Sandia
Heights Areas: http://www.bernco.gov/live/standalone.asp?dept_id=2347&link_id=5305
(The East Mountain Ordinance was recently under review for revisions (August-December 2001). Contact Catherine
VerEecke, Program Planner, (505) 314-0387, cvereecke@mercury.bernco.gov, for further information.)
Or, contact Sandy Fish, Director of Building, Zoning & Planning, sfish@mercury.bernco.gov, (505) 924-3700,
to discuss outdoor lighting regulations for Bernalillo County and coordination with the City of Albuquerque’s
regulations.

City of Rio Rancho:
The City of Rio Rancho has no outdoor lighting code. But, they do have an Illumination Task Force (inactive at
present). The ITF turned in a proposed ordinance and recommendations in June 2001. However, things seemed to
have stalled with its review and adoption. Contact the Mayor, Tom Swisstack, (505) 891-5001,
tswisstack@ci.rio-rancho.nm.us, if you are interested in seeing the City move forward with the Task Force’s
recommendations. There are presently some lighting-related items in the City of Rio Rancho Code of Ordinances.
See Chapter 154 Planning and Zoning, items 154.09 (I) (5) and 154.39, among others.

http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/New Mexico/rioranchonm/cityofrioranchocodeofordinances?
f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:riorancho_nm$anc=