Good lighting means better visibility and energy savings.

There has been much effort to improve outdoor lighting in recent years. Local members of the darksky group have done a good job of educating the public.

Many of the residential lights are now directing light where it is needed. More will come.

The local members tell me that the best thing to do is light only intersections.

In cases where light is needed for security, put up a motion sensor light and aim it to attract attention to intruders. This will keep most visitors friendly.

In the case of schools, use only the light that you need. Use fixtures that direct light to the chosen area. In Ballard, remount the lights and shield them. The money is there.

The local members are part of the International Darksky Preservation Association (IDA). They have a neat Web site that even I sometimes look at (www.darksky. org/).

The best thing is that they are a non-profit group out to educate the public. IPTV’s “Living in Iowa” was impressed, and so was the Des Moines Register.

The merchants in town decided they would use full cutoff lights. They did not want to be told what lumens to use. One station, the Conoco on Duff Ave. run by Dell Oil, is recognized for its good lighting levels. It has enough to see well but not cause night blindness.

The Fareway Store has some good lights and some with refractor lenses.

Merchants have told me that they see lighting as a form of advertising. There are many ways to advertise. The brighter the lights, the more energy use and the higher the cost of operating. That can mean higher prices for customers.

Wall packs and other poorly planned lighting causes problems. Any light that shines in your face and causes those brown spots produces glare. These lights need to be changed to better use light or just be removed. Ask merchants and landlords for better lighting.

Most people think that more light is good. Not always. Light can be used by vandals, and this can thwart catching criminal activity because you are blinded by glare.

There is a small consulting company called Outdoor Lighting Associates that is made up of several people with day jobs and no spare time. They try to have the business break even. They even want to expand some day. Call them, and see what a difference it can make.

Dayton Heins

Resident

Ames