The New England Light Pollution Advisory Group (NELPAG) is a volunteer group founded in 1993 to educate the public on the benefits of using efficient, glare-free outdoor night lighting — and understanding what to light, when (and when not) to light it, and how much light is needed.

Cambridge to Become Dark-Sky Friendly?

On April 28th, the City Council for Cambridge, MA, requested the City Manager draw up a plan "to make city outdoor lighting in parks, along streets and on buildings energy efficient and respectful of "dark sky" principles." Click here to see the resolution, and contact Councilor Henrietta Davis to voice your support!

Connecticut Will Soon Have "Midnight" Streetlight Rates

On January 28, 2008, the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control issued a ruling that paves the way for "midnight rates" for streetlights. This will make it advantageous for cities and towns to retrofit streetlights with sensors that turn them off halfway through the night — a practice already used in California. To see the ruling, download the document here and then scroll to the streetlighting section on page 133.

Help the Massachusetts Outdoor-Lighting Bill

The Massachusetts Legislature is considering a bill to control outdoor lighting. It's known as House Bill 808, and presently it's stuck in committee. the . On November 18, 2007, there was no opposition to the bill during a public hearing for HB 808, but the bill has not yet been reported out by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy]. Check out the committee's website — and call (617-722-2263) to voice your support for House Bill 808.

Did You Know?

To keep a single 100-watt light bulb on all night, every night, requires more than 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year — the energy equivalent of burning more than 500 pounds of coal.