Generally, lighting fixtures should direct light downward onto the area to be lit, and shine no direct light onto neighboring properties or roads, or into the sky.
Fixtures should produce only as much light as is needed for the intended use. Fairly low light levels are sufficient to see to walk in driveways and parking lots. Often, fixtures which shine light into people's eyes create a perception that more light is needed, because it is harder to see with light in your eyes. By correcting the glare problem, seeing is improved without adding more light.
Fixtures should be installed such that they can be on only when needed. In typical residential settings in Stow, there is no need for dusk to dawn lighting. Motion sensors can provide light when someone approaches while saving money and reducing light pollution the rest of the time.
The GlareBuster is a full-cutoff fixture suitable for area lighting (such as a driveway) from a building. It throws light in a nice pattern, illuminating the area under the fixture, as well as to the sides and away, but does not shine any light above horizontal. A lighting committee member has installed one, and it provides effective driveway lighting with few adverse effects and with less electricity consumption than typical cheap floodlights.
Rose Perito - Lighting Consultant
Hansen Electrical Supply
64 Waverly. St Framingham. 01702
Phone: 508-872-4353
[A committee member bought a nice full-cutoff sconce light from this
source; it can be seen as the right-hand fixture on the lighting
display board in the gallery.
The sconce can be seen next to a typical sconce in this
photograph.
Outdoor Lighting Associates (Shields for PAR (typical spotlights on houses) and NEMA-standard utility lights.)
Ace Hardware advertises that they carry GlareBusters (above), but we have not observed any in stores.