Earlier this spring, you may have noticed that the towering skyscrapers in Chicago stopped lighting up at night. This was due to the spring migratory season; now, as we inch closer to fall, the initiative starts once again this Saturday.
Chicago is implementing a ‘Lights Out’ rule for the fall migratory season
Every year, Chicago implements its seasonal “Lights Out” program—once in the spring and once in the fall—which aims to significantly reduce light pollution after sunset.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to protect migratory birds, with a goal of saving 10,000 birds each year, and it returns next week for the fall migratory season.
For 3 months, Chicago skyscrapers 40 stories or taller must dim lights after 11 PM
From August 15 to November 15, Chicagoans are encouraged to turn off decorative lighting on the upper stories of buildings after 11 PM and keep it off until dawn. Tenants on upper floors are also encouraged to turn off their lights or draw their blinds after 11 PM. This applies to all buildings that are 40 stories or taller, as well as to buildings that are taller than 20 stories and isolated from other structures.
Why does Chicago implement the ‘Lights Out’ Rule?
Skyscrapers pose a danger to migratory birds at night because the illumination confuses their navigation systems, causing them to circle the buildings repeatedly until they become exhausted or collide with them.
Here are the guidelines for participating in the “Lights Out” program according to the city of Chicago:
- Draw curtains or blinds to minimize light escaping from the building.
- Use timers to ensure lights are only on when necessary, if at all.
- Install motion-sensitive lighting.
- Utilize lower-intensity lighting whenever feasible.
- In outdoor public areas where lighting is essential for safety, avoid “light trespass” by using fixtures that direct light downward rather than horizontally or upward.
- Use desk lamps or task lighting for security desks and workstations instead of overhead lighting.
- Schedule cleaning crews to work during daylight or early evening hours rather than after 11 PM.
- Avoid illuminating interior plants or fountains that may attract birds.
- Use “zone-capable” interior lighting systems to provide selective rather than full-area illumination.
