FAQ | Becket Dark Skies

FAQ

WHY DO WE NEED A DARK SKY BYLAW?

Light pollution, defined as an adverse and/or obtrusive effect of the use of outdoor light at night (particularly in the blue spectrum), negatively affects not only the rural character of our community and other Hilltowns, but also the health and safety of people, wildlife, plants and ecosystems. Research has shown blue light changes our natural circadian rhythms, which can be correlated to cancer and other diseases in humans, including diabetes and mood disorders. It can also negatively impact nocturnal creatures-- for example, by changing their behaviors, which can lead to biodiversity decline. These lights also can cause more glare, reducing our safety, and are more likely to trespass onto neighbor’s property and into the sky. Light pollution is increasing by 10% per year, but by making educated choices, we can have enough light at night for both safety and enjoyment while avoiding unintended consequences.

This Bylaw is necessary to keep up with current science and minimize the human health and environmental impacts of lighting, particularly surrounding new lighting technology such as LEDs, and to help protect our enjoyment of the night sky! For these reasons, the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has set national standards for outdoor lighting which are used in this proposed Bylaw.

WHAT WILL THE BYLAW DO?

The proposed Bylaw provides a set of standards for outdoor lighting that will:

Minimize light pollution to the greatest extent possible, especially blue light, resulting from the use of outdoor lighting.
Protect residents from light trespass, or unwanted blue light, that negatively affects the enjoyment of property, disrupts the natural circadian rhythm of humans and wildlife, and wastes energy.
Provide adequate light and control glare to ensure the safe navigation of roadways, the safe performance of outdoor tasks at night, and to keep property free from harm.
Minimize skyglow, to preserve the night sky as a natural resource allowing all Becket residents to see the stars and planets against the dark sky.
Preserve the historic and rural character of Becket.
Promote efficient and cost-effective lighting on public and private property in order to conserve energy, thereby reducing carbon emissions and costs to Becket residents.

"Dark skies” doesn’t have to mean "dark ground.”

WILL I HAVE TO GET RID OF MY LIGHTS?

Absolutely not! We have every right to have a light on our own property, but we shouldn't have the right to shine our light on others'. This Bylaw would minimize light trespass by requiring lights, when used, to be aimed towards the ground, where needed. Dark skies does not mean dark ground!

WHAT IS BLUE LIGHT?

Lights can have varying colors, ranging from soft yellow to blue; this is known as the Correlated Color Temperature (CCT). It is the blue light that is most harmful to humans, wildlife, and our ecosystem and which this Bylaw is aiming to reduce. Lighting is rated based on the color by Kelvins (K); this rating can be found on the light bulb packaging or on the light bulb itself. Light approaching the whiter or blue spectrum is over 3000 Kelvin. Since this is the most harmful to humans, wildlife, and our ecosystem, this Bylaw would require outdoor lighting be at or under 3000 K , which is warmer in tone, containing more amber and yellow.

WHY HAVEN’T I HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF BLUE LIGHT BEFORE?

You may have and may not have realized it. Most mobile devices now have a “night shift” function on them that cuts out blue light from the screen at nighttime to diminish the impact on your sleep cycle. You may also have seen LED bulbs that automatically shift the light color depending on the time of day. Finally, if you do an on-line search for “blue light” the first results that populate are for blue light glasses, which are used to filter harmful blue light from computer screens and other devices like cellphones, etc.

DON’T BRIGHT LIGHTS MAKE US SAFER?

As the following video demonstrates, bright light causes glare; glare makes it hard to see what is behind that light. Thus, more light does not make us safer! In addition, when glare trespasses onto roads, it can make it harder for drivers to see, especially for an aging population.

Instead, the use of motion sensors (used with appropriate dark sky friendly lighting and light fixtures) can send a signal that something is amiss. Wildlife, such as bears, can acclimate to lights that are constantly on, but are startled when motion sensor lights are triggered.

WHAT LIGHTS IN TOWN WILL THE BYLAW APPLY TO?

The proposed Bylaw would apply to all privately owned new outdoor lighting, as well as lighting owned, maintained, or controlled by the Town (unless specifically exempted), including street lights, signs, flags, and upward search lights.

Existing light fixtures may continue to be used after the adoption of this Bylaw, providing such lights do not:

trespass onto adjacent properties,
emit light above the horizontal plane of the light fixture,
stay continuously on between 11 PM and dawn (they can instead be on a motion detector), and/or
cause excessive brightness which limits visibility.

WHEN WOULD THIS BYLAW TAKE EFFECT?

The Bylaw takes effect immediately for all newly installed outdoor light fixtures and illuminated signs. Existing non-conforming lighting shall be brought into compliance upon:

Replacement of a lighting fixture for any reason
When a structure is repaired or replaced
When a property changes hands

IS THIS BYLAW GOING TO COST ME OR THE TOWN MONEY?

Not necessarily! No cost solutions include turning off lights or redirecting them down at the ground. Inexpensive solutions include applying low cost or self-made shielding or installing motion detectors. If this can’t be done, Town government, residents, and businesses may need to change or buy lighting fixtures that are dark sky compliant, so that light points downward and not up toward the sky, does not cause dangerous glare, and is not blue. There are many kinds of LED bulbs on the market at correlated color temperatures at or below 3000K. The price of the bulb is not impacted by the correlated color temperature.

HOW WILL THE BYLAW BE ENFORCED?

The Building Inspector or other person designated by the Town Administrator is responsible for enforcing the bylaw.

WHAT RESOURCES CAN HELP ME IDENTIFY DARK-SKY FRIENDLY LIGHTING?

Dark Sky International (DarkSky.org) has five principles of outdoor lighting that everyone should consider:

All light should have a clear purpose
Light should be directed only where needed
Light should be no brighter than necessary
Use light only when it is needed and use controls such as timers or motion detectors
Use warmer colors (avoid shorter wavelengths like blue-violet/ use lights rated at 3000 kelvin or less) where possible.

The IDA also has Dark Sky Approved lighting, as well as information about light pollution, on its website. There is also a BUG rating system (see below) that can help you identify which lights are better for you and the environment.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

There will be informational sessions, telescope nights, and more to keep residents apprised of the benefits of dark skies and the contents of the Bylaw over the coming months. The goal is to have this Bylaw on the spring, 2025 Town Meeting agenda. You can stay informed by signing up for infrequent emails, here, or keep an eye on the Becket Beat and Becket Community Forum Facebook pages.

HOW DID THIS BYLAW COME ABOUT?

Since lighting technology has changed in recent years, and after studying eight Dark Sky Bylaw passed by other Massachusetts towns, a group of Becket residents came together to develop this Bylaw to protect our night skies, create a safer and healthier community, preserve wildlife habitats, and enhance stargazing opportunities. About 50 communities in the state, as well as others in the region and nationally, are realizing the myriad negative impacts of bright and blue lights and are passing Bylaw like this to limit these impacts. Some communities are even creating Dark Sky Preserves, recognizing the benefits to all of dark skies, including economic benefits of dark sky tourism.