Florida Community is Largest in Nation to Join Light-Pollution Fight

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Florida Community is Largest in Nation to

Join Light-Pollution Fight

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Florida Community is Largest in Nation to

Join Light-Pollution Fight

Town of Harmony Puts Lid on Light

FLORIDA, HARMONY, Feb. 17 -/E-Wire/-- The Town of Harmony is installing special light fixtures on all streets and public parks that will curb light pollution.

Harmony's commitment to combating light pollution is believed to make it the largest private community in the nation to adopt such progressive anti light-pollution policies.

"Excessive urban lighting isn't just a nuisance for those of us who still enjoy gazing at the stars in the night sky. It also has grave environmental consequences for animals as well" said Jim Lentz, a founder of this environmentally intelligent development that is taking root within 11,000 acres of pristine land in Central Florida's Osceola County.

Light pollution from parking lots, street lamps and myriad other sources is devastating to certain bird species which rely on stars for navigation. Animals aren't the only ones harmed by excessive exposure to artificial light. A lack of darkness at night has been linked to chronic fatigue, and depression in humans as well.

These are just some of the reasons why Harmony is dedicated to the notion of Dark Sky lighting. That means that lighting in all public areas will be directed downward. Energy-efficient low-wattage bulbs will help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that escapes into the air. Dark Sky compliant street lamps and other outdoor lighting fixtures will be installed throughout Harmony.

And while Harmony's commitment to Dark Sky compliance will slightly cost more than if the town had settled on typical lighting fixtures, the community's stewards believe this feature will result in higher real-estate values for homeowners.

"We could have settled on using cheaper lighting," explained Mr. Lentz. "But what we're building at Harmony is our own home town, a place where you can sit on your front porch and point out the Big Dipper in the night sky to your children. We want to do our part to make sure this development showcases the natural world, which is already full of wonder and beauty."

When completed, Harmony will be home to some 18,000 people and will be among the nation's most environmentally intelligent communities, with 70 percent of its lands set aside for wilderness; its two 500-acre lakes will not have homes on their shores nor pollution-powered boats . All homes will be Energy Star rated & neighborhoods will feature smaller affordable homes with quality construction and design as well as larger more expensive homes all within the same neighborhood.

It will also be home to The Harmony Institute, a non-profit organization with a mission to promote human health and well-being through interactions with nature and animals. The Institute's Campus Advisory Board (HICAB) has provided advice to the community regarding animal and environmental issues, including dark sky.

Town of Harmony, Harmony

Jim Lentz and Greg Golgowski

http://www.harmonyfl.com

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