DARKSKY OHIO

What We Do

Ohioans are losing the night. DarkSky Ohio is here to help preserve that experience, not just for humans, but for the wildlife and plants that depend on it. As Protectors of the Night, we work with organizations, businesses, municipalities, and neighborhoods to develop initiatives that support our commitment to raising awareness on the impact of artificial lighting and educating the public on the principles of responsible lighting.

Revise & Develop Lighting Ordinances

Nearly every municipality has some form of lighting ordinance. However, not all of them follow responsible lighting practices. Lighting ordinances should identify ideal lighting levels and color temperatures, enforce shields on lighting fixtures, establish lighting curfews where appropriate, and provide insight as to where lighting is needed. DarkSky Ohio can help you review your municipality’s existing lighting ordinance, provide recommendations, and help hold your city council accountable for enforcement.

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Before

After

Perform Free, Non-Invasive Lighting Surveys

Most people understandably don’t know how much lighting is too much. It all starts with an assessment. DarkSky Ohio offers free, non-invasive lighting surveys to businesses and organizations throughout Ohio. We highly recommend these surveys before starting any new design or reconstruction project.

Schedule

Assessment

We'll visit your location at night, assess the current fixtures being used, the brightness and temperatures of the bulbs, and identify bad lighting that causes glare, light trespass, or skyglow.

Reporting

After our assessment, our lighting consultants will provide cost-effective recommendations on how to improve your lighting.

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Educate the Public

The first step to any change is raising awareness. Many Ohioans still aren't aware of the impact of light pollution on human health and wildlife, and some individuals don't even realize what the night sky is supposed to look like after years of living in the city.

DarkSky Ohio aims to educate the public by tabling at community events, canvassing in public, sponsoring night hikes, speaking to environmental organizations, and more.

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Form Community Partnerships

DarkSky Ohio welcomes any businesses, organizations, or communities wishing to advocate for dark skies. We can help you establish better lighting ordinances, evaluate your current lighting, and, in some cases, help you start the process of becoming a DarkSky-Approved Site.

Become a Partner

Several individuals, including Governor DeWine and Erin Shaw, stand in front of a ribbon that's about to be cut to honor the opening of the new Night Education Center/Nature Center at Caesar Creek

Preserving Night for Life

The glow of the sunset casts light on the slowly darkening creek landscape. The Milky Way is on full display.

Protect Ohio’s Human Heritage

The first peoples of Ohio were keen observers of the night. The concentration of impressive sites like Fort Ancient, Newark Earthworks, Octagon, and Observatory Mound linked to astronomical alignments is unique to Ohio. Over 2,000 years ago, the Hopewell Society created impressive earthworks based on their observations of the night sky designed to mark time, align sacred sites, and understand their place in the universe. These early engineers aligned the earthworks with celestial events, including equinoxes, solstices, and the 18.6-year lunar standstill cycle. The earliest inhabitants of Ohio revered the beauty, awe, and science of our natural dark sky. DarkSky Ohio recognizes our duty to protect these sacred places and the night sky above that were so important to our ancestors.

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The Five Responsible Lighting Principles

Responsible lighting doesn't necessarily mean no lighting. In today's age, certain places need to be lit for accessibility. However, there are five standard principles that need to be considered when installing or upgrading lighting.

1. Useful

Use light only if it is needed

All light should have a clear purpose. Consider how the use of light will impact the area, including wildlife and their habitats.

2. Targeted

Direct light so it falls only where it is needed

Use shielding and careful aiming to target the direction of the light beam so that it points downward and does not spill beyond where it is needed.

3. Low Level

Light should be no brighter than necessary

Use the lowest light level required. Be mindful of surface conditions, as some surfaces may reflect more light into the night sky than intended.

4. Controlled

Use light only when it is needed

Use controls, such as timers or motion detectors to ensure that light is available when it is needed, dimmed when possible, and turned off when not needed.

5: Warm-colored

Use warmer color lights where possible

Limit the amount of shorter wavelength (blue-violet) light to the least amount needed.

DarkSky Ohio is a 501c(3) nonprofit committed to preserving Ohio's night skies. We work to reduce light pollution and conserve Ohio's ecosystems by educating communities on the importance of responsible lighting.

What We Do

Revise & Develop Lighting Ordinances