Dark Skies & Somersett

from Somersett Living March April 2023

by Just Imagine Marketing and Design

Sports, Fitness & Wellness Classes

While our Somersett Homeowners Association is not officially designated as a Dark Skies Community by the International DarkSky Association, we strive to implement best practices from Dark Sky communities from around the world. Many residents may have heard this mentioned and might be curious about what that means, how they should think about the Dark Sky movement, why it benefits us, and what we can do to continue supporting Dark Sky initiatives.

Somersett was built in 2003 and before that time, much of the area that we now live in was cloaked in darkness at night. Over the last 20 years more than 3,000 homes have been built in our Somersett HOA alone and new houses are still being built today. The arrival of home lighting and streetlights has increased luminescence at night affecting many native animals that depend on darkness to regulate circadian rhythms (such as bats), direct night-time migration patterns (such as birds), and for balanced hunter-prey relationships (such as rabbits, owls, and coyotes).

Many residents would agree that part of the reason that we love Somersett is the connection we have to the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The peace that comes after a recent snowfall or the starry night sky on a clear evening is hard to put into words. We, as residents, marvel at the beauty that is around us and strive to preserve the balance between human development and these native spaces. This is the foundation of the Dark Sky global movement.

The Dark Skies Advisory Group which is part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature has indicated some key reasons why people should strive to reduce light pollution and protect a natural night sky:

1. To preserve the ecological integrity of natural environments

2. To benefit scientific and amateur astronomy and the right for all people to enjoy a clear, unpolluted night sky

3. To appreciate the integrity, character, and beauty of rural landscapes

4. To protect human health, both medical and psychological

5. To contribute to energy efficiency

Some residents are in support of the Dark Sky movement but are concerned with crime and feel that crime rates may go up if lights are turned down, but research has shown that isn’t the case. To clarify, the Dark Sky movement is not about turning off all lights but rather putting up lighting only in areas where they’re needed, choosing lights with top covers, using the right bulbs, and pointing lights downwards to reduce sky glare.

Group challenges for Somersett to support the movement come from developers using outside lighting that don’t support our Dark Skies beliefs because of previously grandfathered building approvals and residents using upward pointing lights for landscaping that doesn’t meet ACG guidelines. Also, some homes in Somersett have inside lighting that glows more brightly than the outside lighting of other homes in the neighborhood.

But, regardless of the lighting that came with your home, all Somersett residents can help the movement by doing a few simple things:

1. At night, turn off outside lighting or install automatic shut-off timers

2. Assess outside lightbulbs and switch to LEDs with a ‘warm’ or ‘amber’ color temperature of no more than 3,000 Kelvins. Kelvin refers to the shade of white the bulb projects

3. Also, replace outside lights with bulbs that are also no more than 300 Lumens per fixture, which measures the brightness of the bulb

4. If you’re in a home where inside lights are visible, turn off all lighting that is not in use

Because Somersett is a neighborhood that aims to nurture our symbiotic relationship with the natural world around us, we can sit in our back yard enjoying the marvel that comes with being able to clearly see twinkling stars, visible planets like Venus and Mars as well as these upcoming meteor showers:

May 5-6: Eta Aquarids

Oct 21-22: Orionids

Aug 12-13: Perseids

Nov 17-18: Leonids

Oct 8-9: Draconids

Dec 13-14: Geminids

Astronomy and nature-loving residents thank everyone for their support of Dark Skies so please join the movement and help spread the word to other neighbors and friends.

Thinking of buying or selling ?

Today’s real estate is a rapidly changing market. You need a reliable, honest and experienced expert as your advocate. Call me, your trusted neighbor, to help navigate your real estate goals.