Dark Sky Protection in Catalonia

4th International Symposium for Dark sky Parks

Parc Astronomic Montsec, 27th June 2011

Generalitat de CatalunyaDepartament de Territori i Sostenibilitat

Direcció General de Qualitat AmbientalServei per a la Prevenció de la

Contaminació Acústica i Lluminosa

REGULATIONS IN CATALONIA

LAW 6/2001, of 31 MAY,

ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

OF LIGHTING FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE

NOCTURNAL ENVIRONTMENT

DECREE 82/2005, of 3 MAY,

APPROVING THE REGULATION DEVELOPING

THE LAW 6/2001

OBJECTIVE

To protect the nocturnal environment from artificial lighting

PURPOSES

A) Maintaining natural night-time conditionsB) Promoting energy efficiencyC) Preventing light intrusion in the domestic settingD) Preventing and correcting the effects of light pollution on the night observation of the sky

The regulation establishes requirements regarding:

• Light quality

• Light amount

• Spatial light confinement

• Temporary light confinement

Light quality

• High efficiency

•Emission of only visible radiation to human eye. Minimum radiation below 440 nm

• The installation of hight pressure mercury vapour lamps forbidden

• The installation of other lamps different from sodium vapour lamps limited

Light amount

Lighting limitations:

• public street lighting: vehicles and pedestrians ar eas• facilities lighting• luminance in monuments• luminance in electric signs• luminance in windows and shop windows• glare rating

Spatial light confinement

Lighting should be directed exclusively to the space and the object to be lighted

The regulation limits:

• intrusive light on vertical surfaces• directional light towards areas with maximum protec tion• directional light towards the sky• glare rating

Temporary light confinement

Night-time is defined from 22 h UTC until sunrise

At night-time, it can be illuminated only for the n ext reasons:

• safety• traffic of people• when the need is justified because some human activity

During night- time the electrical signs should be closed, except when they are giving a necessary service

Actions to foster the protection ofthe nocturnal environment

• Map of protection from light pollution

• Municipal plans to adapt outdoor lighting

• Subsidies for local entities

• Introduction of “light” as an environmental vector in the process of new facilities approval

• Training

• Diffusion

• Reflection

Map of protection from lightpollution in Catalonia

The Map preserves the entireterritory, limiting outdoor lightingof each area to 4 differentsdegrees:

E1 Maximum protectionE2 High protectionE3 Moderate protectionE4 Low protection

The Map and the 947 municipal maps can be consulted at:

http://sima.gencat.cat/Visors/PCL/Inici.html

Map of protection of the environment

from light pollution in Catalonia

Town councils that have applied to the Ministry for subsidies to adapt outdoor lighting in Catalonia

Generalitat subsidies to adapt municipal outdoor lighting 2006- 2010

Applications made: 80 M €

Adaptations undertaken: 27 M €

Subsidies awarded: 9 M €

Action taken by local authorities with Ministry subsidies between 2006 and 2010 allowed town councils to save :

• 6 M € in energy bills

• 53 GWh in electricity consumption

• 20,000 t of CO2 emissions

Introduction of light as an environmental vector in :

• Environmental authorisations for facilities subject to the integrate intervention of the environmental authority (Law 20/2009, of 4 December, on the prevention and environmental control of activities)

• Environmental impact evaluation of projects for facilities and infrastructures

• Environmental evaluation of plans and programmes approved by the Catalan Government administration, local authority or Catalan Parliament (Law 6/2009)

• Control, monitoring and inspection of outdoor lighting installations (Light and Noise Pollution Prevention Service and Environmental Authority Collaborating Entities)

The Montsec Consortium

Objective: The integrated development of thetouristic, social and econòmic scope of theMontsec area

Purposes: Taking action in the social, cultural , leisure, sports, economic, employment, educational and scientific spheres

On 4th December 2002, the Ministryresponsible for environmental affairs of the Catalonia Government, drew up a collaboration agreement with theMontsec Consortium

The aim of the agreement was to adaptoutdoor lighting facilities and appliances, in the municipalities thatmake up the Montsec Consortium

Ministry subsidies to the Regional Councils of La Noguera and El

Pallars Jussà (Montsecarea), have enabled 44

municipal adaptation plans to be

implemented, which have allowed the

identification of the elements and facilities

that do not comply with regulations

The adaptation of street lighting in the seventeen municipalities of the Consortium was undertaken between 2003 and 2010 with an investment of 2,091,637 euros, of which Generalitat of Catalonia provided 852,078 euros in subsidies

Subvencions del Departament (DTES) als ajuntaments del Consorci del Montsec

0,00

50.000,00

100.000,00

150.000,00

200.000,00

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Eur

os

Article 5.2. of Law 6/2001 defines “point of reference”

as a point close to an area of special astronomical or

natural value

In May 2005, Decree 82/2005 established the Montsec Astronomical

Observatory as a point of reference

In December 2007, the Environment Minister

approved the protection of 1,600 km2 around the

Observatory with maximum protection from light

pollution (E1 zone)

Evolution of brightness in the Montsec area between 2001 and 2008

Talarn

Tremp ciutat

Baronia de Rialp

AlfarràsBinéfar

Graus

Most of the Montsec area maintains the same brightne ss in 2008 as in 2001:

Light pollution has decreased in: La Baronia de Rial p, Tragó, Talarn, Alfarràs...Light pollution has increased in: Tremp, Graus, and Binéfar.

Tragó

Training. Courses on light pollution prevention

Diffusion. Publications and websitehttp://www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/dmah/menuitem.7 18bbc75771059204e9cac3bb0c0e1a0/?vgnextoid=60c930a0bb597210VgnVCM1000008d0c1e0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=60c9 30a0bb597210VgnVCM1000008d0c1e0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

Christmas campaign. Annual campaign on sustainable decorative lighting

Areas of work and challenges for the future

To improve environmental protection regulation and reconcile it with energy efficiency regulation

To coordinate the efforts of the government agencies i nvolved in reducing light pollution taking advantage of synergies

To find new ways of financing projects on energetic efficiency improvement

To raise awareness amongst the general public of the n eed to save energy as a way to improve quality of life

Reflections

Quality lighting enables the human eye to see objects properly without harming people or

environment

The new light culture prevents light pollution

• Use quality light avoiding the emission of radiatio n that is invisible to the human eye

• Use the right amount of light – the amount necessary to carry out an activity safely

• Direct the light where it is needed

• Turn lights off when not in use

Thank you

This newenvironmental light culture

is fundamentalto advance

in energy saving and environmental protection