Illumination at US Open is designed to cut light pollution , Pg2

Key Highlights:

• The US Open's Billie Jean King National Tennis Center uses illumination designed to reduce light pollution.
• This tennis center is the only professional sports venue certified by DarkSky International.
• The USTA replaced metal halide bulbs with shielded LED lights in renovations over the past decade.
• DarkSky International has certified over 30 venues since 2019, including sports fields.
• Renovating a field with dark skies in mind can cost about 5% to 10% more than traditional sports lighting.

Detailed Insights:

• Night lights can disrupt bird migration and confuse nocturnal animals, with sports fields being especially bright and intrusive.
• The USTA aimed for optimal court lighting that also minimizes light spillover into the surrounding environment.
• The lights at Flushing Meadows operate at a quarter of their full brightness during off-season rentals.
• DarkSky International approves sports field lighting proposals before installation, measuring glow and glare post-construction.
• Musco, a sports lighting company, assists many arenas in switching to dark sky-friendly lighting during maintenance.
• Even with shielded lights, some upward-pointing light is necessary for tracking flying balls, contributing to some light pollution.
• DarkSky emphasizes that every light fixture adjustment makes a difference and can influence other arenas.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Light Pollution: Excessive or misdirected artificial light.
• LED Lights: Energy-efficient semiconductor light sources.
• Dark Sky Certification: Recognition for minimizing light pollution.