SavvySleeper.org finds that Detroit ranks #2 in light pollution in the US. They also find that residents in more light-polluted cities sleep for fewer hours at night. The American Medical Association has linked this to a variety serious health problems.
Category: Local
How LED billboard companies operate
Baltimore Brew reveals how LED billboard advertising was maneuvered into place in Baltimore and Chicago, for a pittance in revenue. Similar dynamics have been at play in Detroit.
Ann Arbor Lighting Ordinance Adopted!
The Ann Arbor City Council unanimously adopted our group’s lighting ordinance on Sept 7, 2021! It will apply to all new construction and major renovations on private property. It specifies requirements for shielding, light trespass limits, brightness limits for certain applications, curfews for businesses, and limits on blue spectrum lighting, among other things. Many thanks to all who helped make this possible. MLive article.
Ann Arbor Lighting Ordinance at City Council
The Ann Arbor Lighting Ordinance will be presented to the City Council on August 2, 2021. There will be a public hearing on August 16. Public comment is welcome. The Council is expected to vote on whether to approve at the August 16 meeting.
July is Dark Sky Awareness Month in Michigan!
The Michigan State Senate passed SR-69 declaring July 2021 Dark Sky Awareness Month! Kudos to Senators Kim LaSata (R-Cass County) and Rosemary Bayer (D – Oakland County). Please let them know you approve 🙂
Philly dims skyline to save birds
CNN reports that nearly twenty buildings in Philadelphia are dimming their lights this spring after thousands of birds perished in the city’s largest mass collision in recent history. Michigan Audubon has a similar Safe Passage Great Lakes program.
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge to apply for Dark Sky Park status
MLive reports that Keweenaw Mountain Lodge on the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is working toward approval for Dark Sky Park status from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). They would be the third IDA Dark Sky Park after Headlands and T. K. Lawless.
Chelsea Dark Skies launches
A new dark-sky group in Chelsea has organized and has recommended a few revisions to the Chelsea Zoning Ordinance to improve and update the lighting ordinance. They described their efforts at the March 13 Chelsea Community Forum. Contact ChelseaDarkSkies@gmail.com for more info, or to join.
MIDS KIDS Light Shielding Activity available
Michigan Dark Skies is pleased to present a free, fun, family activity for kids in grades 2-6: the MIDS KIDS Light Shielding Activity. Please try it out and send us feedback!
Ann Arbor requests lights out for bird migration
March 15 – May 31 is Safe Passage Great Lakes Days: Ann Arbor and State of Michigan ask owners of tall buildings to turn off lights to save migrating birds. The fall dates are August 15 – October 31. Reported by Channel 4 Click on Detroit.