HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter #01 Matthews Family Bill Mathews
e� .;t2,,Olt.samba r + r . . ;: s�rsr�� : a.s: - ... Musco of Indiana&Kentucky
222 l3eechmont Drive
Cannel,IN 46032
317/846-9178
ATTACHMENT TO LETTER FOR BZA AND CARMEL—CLAY BOARD OF EDUCATION
A recent trip to the library produced the following information on
the subject of light pollution . To quote some eminent sources :
" Since outdoor lighting is generally visible at distances far beyond
the boundary of the facility and is subject to climatological con—
ditions , careful consideration should be given to: (1 ) Spill light
on neighboring property (2) Light added to the sky glow effect . . . "
(RECOMMENDED PRACTICE FOR SPORTS & RECREATIONAL LIGHTING
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America #RP-6-88 p 27)
" People have become so accustomed to bad lighting that they think
there ' s no lighting unless there ' s some glare", (J . Eberhart,
SCIENCE NEWS, Vol 134)
" Ineffective light use also wastes both energy and taxpayers ' money .
In some cases poorly directed lighting can actually be a hazard
because it shines more into your eyes than on the subject , which
might be a busy highway intersection or a sharp curve in the road . "
(Tim B. Hunter and Bob Goff, ASTRONOMY, Sept . 1988)
"The worst problem is outdoor lighting : sports stadiums , auto
dealerships and light aimed upward at billboards . At least 30% of
this light misses its target and is wasted . The United States spends
a billion dollars a year lighting up the underbelly of airplanes .
Translated , that sum comes to 6 million tons of coal or 23 million
barrels of oil" . (John P . Wiley , Jr . , SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, April,
1990)
"To get a feel for the savings , consider that roughly $1 billion
worth of electricity is wasted in the United States every year. . .
Particularly egregious are sports stadiums . . . " (RESEARCH NEWS
9/9/88, p 1289)
" . . . there are efforts locally and nationally to improve the quality
of lighting used to illuminate sporting events . (SKY & TELESCOPE,
July 1990)
vir
.111111111)
411 ,4
Independent Representative for:
L Official Supplier of Lighting rnuscO
rT.1firm7-1v.IrG..J./b Rati.° to tha 1990('.mr)v,ri.11 (:nmvc
Musco of Indiana & Kentucky/222 Beechmont Drive/Carmel, IN 46032/317/846-9178
0000
musco
TO THE CARMEL-CLAY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS :
As a resident of Carmel with 33 years ' experience in the lighting
industry , (the past 15 years devoted exclusively to sports lighting)
I would like to express the following points on the proposed Carmel
High School Football Stadium lighting system:
1 . Use of these lights is not required until August of 1991 . There
is time to make certain that Carmel High School will have the best
possible football lighting system.
2 . Although current sports lighting technology enables control of
spill light and light pollution ( Sky Glow Effect ) ; there is nothing
in the project ' s plans and specifications which requires control of
these 2 environmental factors . In controlling these 2 factors , a
very important 3rd factor (glare) is reduced ; thereby increasing
visual comfort for players , spectators , neighbors , and motorists .
3 . A spill light demonstration at a previous BZA meeting was meant
to show the difference between 1 footcandle and . 1 footcandle (at
the property line) but light quantities were expressed in horizontal
footcandles ; not in actual maximum footcandles . Also, no provisions
were made for eye adaptation . It appeared that the photometric
curves used to plot the light levels were for the parking lot lights
only . Our printout indicates that the football lights alone would
produce an average of 7 . 5 times the allowable light at the property
line ( 19 . 7 times allowable at the brightest target point ) .
4 . Computer studies of this project lead us to believe that a few
suggested modifications could :
(a) Increase light on football field above specified levels .
(b) Decrease glare for spectators by up to 9Oo avera'7e f . c .
( e) Decrease light pollution and spill light .
(d) Decrease operating costs by more than 45%.
(c) Decrease the project ' s initial cost .
It may be suggested that , being in the sports lighting business , I
have an ulterior motive for suggesting these changes . The above
points are nonetheless legitimate . Carmel High School has spent the
past decade wishing for a bettor lighted football field . Surely it
is prudent to take a look at state of the art technology .
It is not my wish to cause embarrassment or confrontation or to make
a public issue of this information . If you or your designer would
care to take a few minutes for an informal discussion , I would be
happy to meet with you . Please let me know :_f this information
prompts further discussion .
incerely ,
18
Light-years ahead...through technology