index

Responsible Outdoor Lighting

"A Better Idea"

Public Presentation

Arnor Larson

was held

April 16, at 7:30

at the Creston Community Complex.

Director Ralph Moore with the Erickson Community Association, assisted by a grant from Director Kettle, was able to bring Mr. Arnor Larson from Invermere to give a presentation in Creston once again. Mr. Larson is a specialist in the areas of light pollution, energy waste, light trespass, glare and sky glow. On April 16, he spoke to a crowd of about 60 at the Rec Center and presented a slideshow that gave examples of light waste and light pollution, through photos of the Invermere area and the Town of Creston. Something many of us have never considered is the negative impact that this can have on wildlife, who need the cycles of both light and dark to carry out their lives.

Lights pollute our air because polluting coal fired plants produce the electricity needed to run them. Turning off unnecessary lights will prevent tons of coal plant carbon dioxide from going into our atmosphere.

Mr Larson also showed how unnecessary light and glare can be reduced. Basically, streetlights and other lights should be of the full cut off type. This kind of light has a flat bottom on the fixture that is slightly inset from the edge of the surrounding outside shade. It casts light downward instead of up and/or outward. Lights on buildings and in our yards should also be the type that cast light downward.

This significantly reduces glare, which is a safety hazard to motorists. It also allows RCMP to respond more effectively to crime events. As perpetrators move into less contrastive shadows, they are easier to see. Mr. Larson offers proof that less light reduces criminal activities. It makes no sense to illuminate the contents of a shop or building or yard to ease the work of a robber! In addition, he shows how numerous buildings and other areas such as churches, schools and parking lots are lit all night long, which is doing no useful thing, and is a terrific waste of energy. They would be just as safe and intact with no lights on at all.

We also must get rid of the mercury vapour lights because they have the worst glare and are most costly to operate. They also have a half life which diminishes their light over time. Many people suffer from the lights in their neighbour's yard, and we do have a right to ask the owners of polluting lights to adjust their lights to shine only in their own yards. As well, technology exists whereby we can utilize a switch to turn on our outside lights only when needed.

In addition to fixtures that reduce light pollution, there are certain types of lightbulbs that are more efficient and economical. So when replacing lights, be sure the fixture casts the light downward and that an environmentally friendly lightbulb is used with it.

Mr. Larson may be reached at 250-342-7252 or online at www.wildsight.ca.

Please mark this date on your calendar, April 16, at 7:30 at the Creston Community Complex.

Please share this announcement with others and other groups, and we hope to see you there!

Sharon Sadler,

Secretary,

Erickson Community Association

ERICKSON RESIDENTS "SIGN-UP" FOR SAFETY

Soon it will be much easier to find addresses in Erickson, especially in an emergency!

The Erickson Community Association (ECA) has successfully launched an Emergency Services House Numbering Project. The goal is to assist Emergency Services Personnel (Fire, Ambulance, Police, Utilities, etc.) to quickly locate a premise when responding to a Call for Help.

The Committee, comprised of E.C.A. Vice Chair Brad Rae, Treasurer Jeannie Longhurst, Secretary Sharon Sadler, and Director Les Mawson, have received assistance from the Columbia Basin Trust and worked with the RDCK and Emergency Services First Responders to determine what these organizations would most like to see in a rural house numbering system. Not surprisingly, they all endorsed, "Hi-Vis, Reflective numbers, posted adjacent to the premise driveway, so that the house numbers are visible to vehicles traveling in both directions."

Properties with multiple residences/ businesses were also specified as requiring individual house numbering at both the street and at each dwelling.

This ensures that Emergency Vehicles and equipment can be correctly positioned upon arrival, and that valuable time isn't wasted attempting to find the correct premise when responding to an emergency at a property where more than one is located.

The ECA's goal under this Community Safety Program is to have every property in Erickson voluntarily conforming to this new "standard", with a majority of signs in place in 2007.

This is a cost-effective D.I.Y. home improvement project that contributes to everyone's safety and security. It's also a reasonably affordable gift item for Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Special discounted bulk pricing was obtained from a local supplier for the house numbering signs. They are professional quality 6" X 18" aluminum sign plates, with a green background on both sides. 4" tall Hi-Vis Reflective White house numbers are applied horizontally to both sides. The aluminum plate may be easily drilled for mounting. Installation guidelines accompany each sign, so that some consistency of placement is achieved for visibility and esthetics.

Volunteers from the ECA will assist residents who may be physically unable to install their own signs.

Everyone who walks, jogs, rides a bike, skateboards, or drives a tractor in Erickson can benefit from the up-coming draws taking place to promote the sale of the Emergency Services House Numbering signs.

Each sign sold before Mother's Day (May 13), Father's Day (June17) and Labour Day (Sept. 3) enters the buyer's name in a draw for Hi-Vis Traffic Safety Gear. The sooner you order your sign, the better your chances to win! Draws will take place in May, June and September.

As prices may be going up soon, the ECA is encouraging Erickson residents to order their signs as soon as possible in order to benefit from the low pricing of $25, all taxes included, that is currently available. Signs may be ordered through Jeannie Longhurst at 428-7060 or Sharon Sadler at 428-9096.

The Regional District has indicated that if Erickson is successful at implementing house numbering, they may adopt the Erickson model as a prototype for uniform house numbering throughout the Regional District. Who knows, perhaps Erickson will set the precedent for other rural areas of B.C. and Canada!