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Why a red zone dark sky park ?
Over the past decade we have started waking up to the harm we are causing through excessive and wasteful night-time lighting . Creating a red zone dark sky park is not just about seeing the stars – although that is a wondrous thing . It ’ s also about being healthier ; protecting our environment , and saving money . It ’ s about intelligent lighting , not total darkness . It ’ s about planning the light so it shines where it needs to be , rather than ruining our night vision and our view of the stars . It ’ s about ensuring the lights are the right kind of lights , so they don ’ t disrupt our natural rhythms , and our unique environment . You can read more about the technical requirements for lighting in a dark sky park .
Stars in Christchurch
Right now , in Christchurch , we can see around 500 stars . In the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky
Reserve you can see around 4000 . A red zone dark sky park won ’ t achieve the night sky clarity of the Mackenzie Country – we are in a city , after all . But with intelligent lighting where it ’ s needed , around 1500 stars could be visible . That ’ s two to three times more than what we can see now . Health benefits of a dark sky : - Artificial night-time light harms our health –
Ruru ( morepork ) Ruru : small , native owls that would be at home in an Avon River red zone dark sky park . Photo : Laura Molles
Community Article
so much so that the American Medical Association recently adopted guidelines to minimise the impact of night-time lighting . Light pollution , especially blue light from LEDs , is a risk factor for increased breast and prostate cancers . Blue light at night disrupts our circadian rhythm and leads to changes in the way we metabolise many hormones , including melatonin ( which we produce only at night in the absence of blue light ). As a result we experience fatigue , stress , loss of alertness , and decreased well-being . It ’ s also been implicated in serious ailments such as cancer , diabetes , and asthma . Controlling the light within the red zone would have significant health benefits for red zone neighbours , leading to increased alertness and well-being , and decreased stress and depression . It ' s not just human health that would benefit – plants and animals also need a time of darkness . Environmental benefits Like humans , many animals also have a circadian rhythm of alternating light and darkness , and they rely on this to lead a normal life . Artificial light at night can severely disrupt their lives , whether they are nocturnal or otherwise . Even trees and plants thrive better if the nights are dark and the days are bright and sunny . Imagine a red zone where ruru ( morepork ) flourish . A red zone that offers viable habitat to the endangered Canterbury long-tailed bat . A red zone where school children can learn about glow worms , weta , and other nocturnal species .
Financial benefits
Not only has the way we light our cities blocked out our night skies , harmed our health , and harmed our environment , but it ’ s also been financially wasteful . Between 30 and 40 per cent of the costs of electrical power for street lighting can be saved if street lights only shine down , not up . By lighting the Avon River Red Zone intelligently , we can save ratepayers money ! Read more : http :// greeningtheredzone . nz / why-a-red-zone-dark-sky-park