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| User Accounts |
| Due to the overwhelming amount of junk messages posted as comments, FAQ suggestions, etc., user accounts and commenting have been disabled on the site. |
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| SELENE Statement on Light Pollution |
Light pollution is rapidly degrading the sky's quiet majesty and our nighttime environment. Excessive and misdirected outdoor illumination wastes precious energy, resources, and dollars; it increases power plant-generated air pollution, causes glare that blinds drivers and pedestrians, intrudes onto our property, and invades our privacy.
SELENE's mission is to advocate for better lighting practices in NY State and to ensure the passage of the The Healthy, Safe, and Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting Act |
| Announcements |
2009 LP bill archived to this site |
| Posted by: selene on 12/12/2009 06:33 PM (Read: ) |
| As we do every year, we have archived last year's incarnation of the Healthy, Safe, and Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting Act from the NYS Assembly site. You can access our archive of prior bill versions on our old bills page. |
Night Lights: Too Much of a Good Thing? |
| Posted by: selene on 12/07/2009 09:10 AM (Read: 346) |
The December 2009 issue of the NY State Conservationist magazine (a publication of the DEC), has an excellent article titled "Night Lights - Too Much of a Good Thing? Environmental consequences of night lighting" by Daniel J. Rozell.
Click the read more link for links to this article in Web and PDF versions. |
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Assembly vote tally |
| Posted by: selene on 08/30/2009 11:58 AM (Read: ) |
| A belated update on the Assembly vote on this year's LP bill. The vote was 104 to 39 in favor of the bill. The power struggle in the State Senate has so far prevented any action on the bill in that house. There is some remaining hope that the Senate will take up the bill in any Fall session that might be added to the schedule. |
LP bill passes in Assembly |
| Posted by: selene on 06/19/2009 08:24 AM (Read: ) |
We're delighted to report that the NYS Assembly has just passed A7281, the Healthy, Safe, and Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting Act! We don't have any tally of the vote just yet.
As you doubtless know, the Senate essentially ceased functioning on June 8th. At that time the Senate version of the bill, S2714, was scheduled to be considered by the Environmental Conservation Committee on June 16th. That meeting, alas, never took place, and it is unclear whether there will be any more meetings of the Committee this year.
Of course it never hurts to remind your Senator of your support for this legislation. When the dust settles, we will post information about the appropriate contacts with the Senate leadership...whoever that may turn out to be! |
A5769 passes the Assembly |
| Posted by: selene on 05/15/2009 05:38 PM (Read: ) |
| A5769 has passed the Assembly. This bill will amend the Public Health law to provide the authority for the department of health to engage in or support research on the health effects of artificial night light. It has been delivered to the Senate and assigned to the Health Committee. |
SELENE on SlideShare.net |
| Posted by: selene on 05/05/2009 08:40 AM (Read: ) |
Web 2.0 technologies offer a great way to share and interact. For example, 280slides.com provides a way to create PowerPoint-like presentations online, for free. Slideshare.net provides a way to share those presentations.
We've published one of our PowerPoint presentations about light pollution using these tools. Check it out at:
SELENE - Light Pollution
We encourage you to use these tools to spread the word about the ill effects of poorly designed and implemented outdoor lighting. |
2009 is the Year of Astronomy in the State of New York |
| Posted by: selene on 04/01/2009 01:11 PM (Read: ) |
Resolution K00360, introduced by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, encourages Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim 2009 the Year of Astronomy in the State of New York in conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy.
More information is at:
International Year of Astronomy (US site) |
April 2-5 proclaimed 100 Hours of Astronomy in the State of New York |
| Posted by: selene on 04/01/2009 01:06 PM (Read: ) |
Resolution K00337, introduced by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, encourages Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 2-5, 2009, as 100 Hours of Astronomy in the State of New York.
"100 Hours of Astronomy is a venture of breathtaking scope that seeks to involve people from all walks of life around the globe and conveys a multitude of messages, from the personal benefit of astronomical knowledge to the pressing issue of curbing light pollution". The resolution encourages "citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day and nighttime sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery."
More information is at:
100 Hours of Astronomy
International Year of Astronomy (US site)
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Dealing with Light Trespass Problems in New York State
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The most frequent inquiry we receive at SELENE comes from people who have a problem with light shining onto their property, often into their bedroom windows, disrupting their sleep and adversely affecting their use and enjoyment of their property.
While every situation is unique, SELENE has found some common themes that we share with you in this article.
State-level efforts
"Light trespass" can come from a commercial establishment, a school or other government facility, a streetlight, or another residence. Everyone seems to agree that there should be some kind of law against this. Furthermore, there is no doubt that countless others are suffering from light trespass and are either unaware that they can do something about it or are afraid to confront the owners of the offending lights. Since 1999 SELENE has fought for light pollution legislation at the state level that would give residents recourse in certain light trespass situations. Such a bill has been passed by the Assembly four times, but at the end of the 2004 legislative session, it remained locked up in the Senate Rules Committee. Your support for the next version of this legislation is very important! See our LP Legislation page for more information on the bill. Check out our forums to discuss lighting issues and the bill with others across the state. And join our Sensible Lighting email list to keep abreast of the latest light pollution news that affects all New Yorkers.
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| Lighting Tips |
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