Dark sky Lighting at the Casas
At the 2018 Annual Meeting, the Membership agreed to move the Casas into compliance with the Arizona Dark Sky Statute.
The HOA has retrofitted the exterior garage lights to shine down only and be compliant.
Only 60-watt warm white LED bulbs are approved for garage fixtures, these bulbs will be supplied by The Casas.
Owners agreed that as they replace exterior lighting they would purchase specific dark sky labeled fixtures.
Also agreed was unit lights should be 40-60 warm white LED bulbs in the patio light or other exterior fixtures.
Patio and exterior lights should be turned off each night, put on a motion sensor, or put on a timer since lighting from one unit impacts other units that adjoin or face your unit. Some owners want to sleep, others want to view our beautiful starry Arizona skies.
Efforts to be good neighbors makes the Casas enjoyable for all.
Why Darkness Matters
The use of artificial light at night has far-ranging impacts for humans, plants, and animals alike.
Most living things rely upon a balanced ecosystem and the day/night cycle to thrive. At the same time, our 24/7 society needs light at night, especially for illuminating transportation pathways and creating safe environments. It’s critical that Casa owners and other lighting decision makers recognize the importance of darkness and ensure our societal need for light is balanced with protection of the dark.
If not responsibly designed, outdoor light at night uses more energy than necessary, increases sky glow, impedes upon adjacent properties, and negatively impacts wildlife and environmental ecosystems.
Light Fixtures
When selecting Dark Sky outdoor lighting fixtures make sure the design is pointing the light toward the ground, or the style has a shield that focuses the light downward. This cuts down on the light pollution shining up, minimizes glare, and helps provide better vision in the dark areas.
Bulbs - Lumens vs Watts and Kelvins
Lumens
Color Temperature- Kelvins
Color Temperature- Kelvins
Use this chart to determine exactly how many lumens are in a watt.
This should provide our Casas residents with an understanding of how bright a fixture with 250 lumens vs 2600 lumens is.
For instance, a 25-watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to 250 lumens of light, a 60-watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to 630 lumens.
Color Temperature- Kelvins
Color Temperature- Kelvins
Color Temperature- Kelvins
For outdoor lighting, the Casas recommends using bulbs that are 2,700 Kelvin or less. Bulbs labeled “warm white” are usually under this limit. Bulbs labeled “daylight” are usually around 4,000 to 5,000 Kelvin and are inappropriate for outdoor lighting.
The Casas recommends only warm white bulbs for outdoor use.