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An ordinance amending Titles 16 and 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws regarding the design and operation of outdoor electrical lighting to achieve light pollution reduction consistent with International Dark Sky Association guidelines (Proposal No. 2020Z-014TX-001).
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WHEREAS, although artificial lighting has enabled people to be productive around the clock and has provided many benefits to civilization, an unfortunate side effect of artificial lighting is light pollution, which can have multiple negative consequences if not minimized; and
WHEREAS, light pollution of adjacent properties or of the night sky results from using too much light, directing it where it is not needed, or using it when it is not needed; and
WHEREAS, light pollution in the U.S. is estimated to waste up to 35% of the energy used for outdoor lighting, enough to power two cities the size of New York, resulting in five million tons of greenhouse gas being emitted into the air unnecessarily, costing three billion dollars in wasted energy, and squandering limited energy resources; and
WHEREAS, light pollution has significant environmental effects, including the alteration of the circadian rhythms of many animals and insects who depend on the natural light / dark cycle of day and night and the disruption of seasonal cycles used by migrating birds, sea turtles, and many other animals; and
WHEREAS, research suggests that artificial light at night can negatively affect human health, increasing risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, breast cancer and more; and
WHEREAS, light pollution reduces the ability to see the constellations of the night sky, an invaluable source of wonder and curiosity, diminishing the opportunity to draw our children into fascination with Science Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education; and
WHEREAS, the Livable Nashville Committee was convened in 2016 to develop a vision for protecting and enhancing Nashville's livability and en...
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