Infrastructure & Trees

Lighting

A start to lowering light pollution in the nation’s capital

Many people and businesses in DC learned about the threat of our city’s overlighting during February and March. Energetic members of the DC Chapter of the International Dark-Skies Association reached out for support for the District’s first-ever  Lights-Out Hour DC.

The campaign asked homes and businesses to dim unneeded light for just one hour, 8:30-9:30 pm on Saturday March 25. Restore Mass Ave supported the DC Chapter’s campaign. Since 2017 we have pushed for the lowest safe light levels along major arteries like Massachusetts Avenue. We got the support of

    3    City Council Members (Matt Frumin Ward 3, Charles Allen Ward 6, Zachary Parker Ward 5)

    3    Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (3D, 3F, and 3/4G)

   23  Environmental groups, Eight leading groups are below

Supporters  argue that the nation’s capital should join other leading cities around the world – such as Sydney, Australia and Ottowa, Canada that have dimmed lights annually for Earth Hour.  An estimated 400 million people have participated.

We hoped for more response from those in charge of highly visible structures and leading DC Institutions.

What you can do

Keep learning about light pollution. Warm up – or dim down – for Earth Hour in March 2024!

Tips from the International Dark-Sky Association: https://www.darksky.org/our-work/lighting/

For how you can help locally contact the D.C. IDA Chapter head waysav@gmail.com.

DDOT contract for citywide light change must be reviewed

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3/4 G (Chevy Chase) called “for the city to participate in Lights-Out Hour DC.” The commission has called for “changes in the District’s contract to replace the streetlight system to reduce brightness and minimize other adverse effects.” The resolution said:

“Lighting — and potentially overlighting — are likely to re-emerge as a community focus later this year when  the District’s rollout of a $309 million replacement of the city’s entire street and alley light system reaches Chevy Chase.”

Mayor Bowser proclaims April 15-23 Dark Sky Week in DC

The cause moved ahead when Mayor Muriel Bowser proclaimed this week Dark Sky Week. Her Proclamation noted that “80 percent of the world’s population lives under excessive artificial lighting and DC parks are home to dozens of animal species that rely on undisturbed light to hunt, mate and thrive.” It noted  that “reducing light pollution would save District residents hundreds of millions of dollars per year.”

Her Proclamation noted that the International Dark Sky Association is raising awareness “about astronomy and the negative impacts of light pollution in the District of Colombia and across the globe.”

Thank you, your Honor!

On Mass Ave we got moved streetlights moved away from trees

The DDOT plans to reconstruct the most historic mile of Mass Ave included replacement of all the streetlights lights. Lights of 4000K were planned; DDOT was testing brighter lights as well. So RMA dove into street light policy. we sought lower temperature LED streetlights. The new ones are 3000 K LEDs and look too bright.  It is is the lowest that DDOT allows right now.  We are told individual local adjustments cannot be made.

A success (see sidebar): many light poles are sited away from trees. We urged this so the leafy crowns would not have to be carved out to let light reach the ground. Also thick, connected leaves above the lights means less light reaching the sky. This design makes better habitat for pollinators and birds. We urge DDOT to do this in other street projects.

Our policy work

We work with the Urban Forestry Division (UFD) and the Infrastructure Projects Management Division (IPMD) in the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT). We work with Members of the City Council and testify as requested. We consult with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions 2B (Dupont and downtown), 2D (Sheridan Kalorama) and 3C (Cathedral area).