HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-15 Letter to Justin Woodson re HB 427 h
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February 15, 2017
Representative Justin Woodson
Higher Education
Hawai'i State Capitol
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chair Woodson and members:
RE: HB 427
Thank you for this opportunity to comment on HB 427.
Hawaii County has worked to transition 11,000 County and State street lamps to
LED which results in reduced light pollution and 50% reduction ($1 million annually) in
operating energy costs.
Our Department of Research and Development, in partnership with the
Department of Public Works Traffic Division, the Department's Energy Program, the
Institute for Astronomy, Hawai'i Wildlife Center, and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, is
promoting friendly night skies through its Dark Sky initiative. This initiative is the
outcome of the successful LED streetlight replacement project that installed fully
shielded LED lamps with custom designed blue spectrum filters.
Research has shown that nighttime illumination interferes with migratory bird and
nesting turtle activity, in addition to interfering with sleep cycles in humans. The
replacement of energy wasting incandescent fixtures with light emitting diodes (LED)
saves energy, but the blue light spectrum from most LED fixtures is particularly harmful
to the health of wildlife and humans, in addition to interfering with astronomy, star-
gazing activities, and encroaching on wilderness areas. So the Dark Sky initiative works
to encourage the use of appropriate lighting for the benefit of all.
R pectfully submitted,
iL2
Harry2irri-J
Mayor
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer