What Is a Dark Sky Community?
We’re all familiar with the light pollution produced by cities, and how it affects our view of the stars in the night sky – dark sky communities are changing this. Dark sky communities are towns, cities, and municipalities that are committed to preserving the night sky by implementing responsible lighting practices.
But what exactly does it mean to be a dark sky community, and what are the implications for businesses and their signage? Let’s dive in.
The Importance of Dark Skies
Dark sky communities prioritize minimizing light pollution to protect the natural nighttime environment. This benefits not only stargazers but also wildlife, ecosystems, and even human health.
Several studies have shown how excessive artificial light at night can disrupt sleep patterns, affect animal migration, and waste energy. In fact, more than 99% of Americans and Europeans live under light-polluted skies.
Becoming a Dark Sky Community
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a leading organization in the fight against light pollution. They have a rigorous certification process for communities that wish to be recognized as a “Dark Sky Community.” This involves meeting criteria such as:
- Implementing a quality outdoor lighting ordinance: This includes regulations on light intensity, direction, and color temperature.
- Promoting dark sky education: Raising awareness among residents about the importance of responsible lighting.
- Demonstrating citizen support for dark skies: Engaging the community in dark sky initiatives.
Signage Considerations in Dark Sky Communities
For businesses operating in dark sky communities, commercial signage plays a crucial role in maintaining compliance with local ordinances. These ordinances often include restrictions on:
- How much light is being emitted directly from a sign
- The color temperature of the illumination bulbs in the sign
- The colors of materials through which light is shining, which can control how strong the light is.
- For example, a translucent red or blue material will reduce the light illumination of a sign using those colors much more than a sign that is illuminating through white, cream, or other very pale color tones.
- The direction of the lighting. A front-lit sign has more of an effect on light pollution than a “back-lit”, “halo-lit” or “reverse-lit” sign (each of these terms referring to the same lighting style).
- For example, some communities may limit channel letter signs to back-lit or halo-lit only, not allowing front-lit channel letter signs.
- The amount of square footage of light-emitting signage, or percentage of the sign that has white or light colors that are illuminated.
How Saber Sign Solutions Can Help
Navigating the regulations of a dark sky community can be tricky. That’s where Saber Sign Solutions comes in. We are experts in crafting signage solutions that meet the unique requirements of dark sky communities. We offer a range of dark sky friendly options, and can also assist you with insight and tips for effective signage that minimizes light pollution:
- Designing signs with reverse color schemes, such as using white or light-colored lettering on a black or dark-toned background.
- Minimizing the portion of the sign face that is illuminated – instead of a fully-illuminated cabinet face, one can choose push-through translucent acrylic lettering in a metal face, or lettering cut out of surrounding opaque materials.
There are a number of techniques that can be used to support your Dark Skies Community while still having beautiful and effective signage. Saber Sign Solutions can review the local City ordinances to discover what restrictions are in place, and recommend a solution that will work best for your signage.
Work With a Team of Dark Sky Community Signage Experts
Dark sky communities are leading the way in preserving our view of the night sky and protecting the environment. By understanding the regulations and choosing the right signage solutions, businesses can play a vital role in supporting these efforts.
Request a consultation from Saber Sign Solutions today to learn more about how we can help you navigate the world of dark sky compliant signage.
