Turn Down the Lights, Turn On the Stars

A Destination Southern Tasmania and Beaker Street Activation

Businesses are asked to focus on one specific day, to turn down (or off) non-essential lighting.

As part of the Beaker Street activities in August, the public will be encouraged to step outside and enjoy southern Tasmania’s winter night sky from the 1st to the 18th.

Sunday 11th August 2024

Join us in this initiative with Beaker Street on Sunday 11th August to reduce light pollution and reveal the stunning night sky. Together, we can make Hobart a standout destination, by night as well as by day!

How do I participate in “Turning down the Lights, Turn on the Stars”

Reduce: Evaluate the necessary level of lighting. Use dimmers, cover lights with amber materials to soften their output, and turn off unnecessary lights to enhance focus and interest.
Shield: Direct lights downward to increase efficiency and reduce glare. Employ shades or caps to ensure lights illuminate intended areas and not the air.
Warm: Opt for lighting solutions with a color temperature of 2700K or less to achieve a warm, inviting glow.
Time: Utilize timers and sensors to ensure lights are only active when needed, maximising energy efficiency.
Turn off: Turn off unnecessary lights at 9.00 pm on Sunday 11th August 2024.
Register: If you are getting involved, register your business here, and we will promote you via the Beaker Street website and through our consumer channels

Understanding the Impact of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN)

Our cities thrive under the glow of artificial lighting, enhancing safety, visibility, and aesthetics. However, the excessive use of ALAN has emerged as a significant form of pollution—light pollution. This not only obscures our view of the night sky but also adversely affects wildlife, our health, and contributes to energy wastage and climate change. Light pollution leads to glare and unnecessary light spill, diminishing the beauty and safety of our urban environments at night and creating visual clutter.

Why Adopting Dark Sky Lighting is Beneficial for Your Business

Embracing dark sky-sensitive lighting principles can significantly enhance your business’s appeal and efficiency in the nighttime economy:

Visibility and Contrast: Lower light levels allow your business to stand out more vividly against a darker backdrop.
Ambiance and Comfort: Warm, subdued lighting is often more welcoming than harsh, bright lights, creating a pleasant environment for customers.
Cost and Energy Efficiency: Reducing unnecessary lighting saves on energy costs and is better for the environment.
Safety and Aesthetics: Minimizing glare improves visibility and safety, while also maintaining the historical and natural ambiance of Hobart, making it more attractive to tourists.

The idea of “Turn Off The Lights and Turn On The Stars” came from a Children’s Mayor Submission from Jonah Kearon.

The Children’s Mayor Program is run by the City of Hobart each year to foster democratic awareness and civic engagement amongst primary school students. The program encourages Hobart school children to submit an idea for the city that they would do, if they were Mayor.

Jonah suggested turning off all the lights in the City to reduce light pollution under the slogan “turn off the lights, turn on the stars”. He says that his suggestion would help people and animals by helping us reconnect with the stars and return to a more natural way of being