If you happen to live in a Dark Sky Community, you are one of the lucky few. The few who get to witness our vast galaxy filled with billions of stars, observe planets that are light-years away, watch a meteor streak across the night sky and then, in all its magnificent glory, gaze at the brilliance of the Milky Way when it appears in the darkness.

Imagine that only two out of 10 people on Earth can see the Milky Way. That means that 99% of the population within the U.S. and Europe cannot see this spiral galaxy because of where they live: Under light polluted skies.

In an average year in the U.S. alone, outdoor lighting uses about 120 terawatt-hours of energy, mostly to illuminate streets and parking lots. That’s enough energy to meet New York City’s total electricity needs for two years. Wasting energy has huge economic and environmental consequences.

The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) estimates that at least 30% of all outdoor lighting in the U.S. is wasted, mostly by lights that aren’t shielded. That adds up to $3.3 billion and the release of 21 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. To offset all that carbon dioxide, 875 million trees would have to be planted annually.

As of January 2022, there are 195 International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) in the world which include cities, towns and national parks among a few other designated places.  International Dark Sky Community is a town, city, or municipality that has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky through the implementation and enforcement of a quality outdoor lighting ordinance, dark sky education and citizen support. There are 36 communities to date.

In fact, Arizona has 19 Dark Sky Communities, places and parks, two of which are national parks (Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest), making the state one of the largest Dark Sky sites in the nation.

Flagstaff

The city of Flagstaff holds the distinct honor of being designated by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) as the world’s first Dark Sky Community in 2001. Home to Lowell Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station, it has long been a leader in outdoor lighting policy, enacting the world’s first outdoor lighting ordinance in 1958. 

Sedona & The Village of Oak Creek

The IDA designated Sedona as the World’s Eighth International Dark Sky Community on August 4, 2014, and the second city in Arizona. Five miles away from Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek obtained their certification in 2016 making them the third city to become certified.

Fountain Hills

In January of 2018, Fountain Hills was awarded the rare distinction of being a designated IDSC by the IDA. It is one of only two International Dark Sky Communities located near a major metropolitan area. 

Camp Verde

Camp Verde is the fifth Dark Sky Community in Arizona, and the 20th designated Dark Sky Community in the world made official on June 8, 2018.

Cottonwood

The city of Cottonwood has become the newest addition to the International Dark-Sky Places Program, as an International Dark Sky Community. It has been Cottonwood’s mission to obtain this designation since 2016. Working with the community, the city of Cottonwood has become the 23rd designated Dark Sky Community in the world. The state of Arizona now accounts for six Dark Sky Communities, with four of the six communities located in the Verde Valley: Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek, Camp Verde and Cottonwood.

Grand Canyon National Park

Over six million people visit the Grand Canyon National Park annually. Historically, the high rate of visitation left a legacy of over 5,000 light fixtures in the park. In 2016, the park was awarded Provisional International Dark Sky Park status, and the National Park Service and the Grand Canyon Association embarked on a multi-year effort to bring all those fixtures into compliance with IDA requirements. In June 2019, Grand Canyon National Park completed this project and was awarded full status in time for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the national park.

The IDA designates IDSPs following a rigorous application process requiring applicants to demonstrate robust community support for dark sky protection and document designation-specific program requirements.

Applications are reviewed periodically by an IDA standing committee composed of dark-sky experts and previously successful program applicants. Regular status updates after designation ensure that IDSPs continue their commitment to dark sky preservation.

Upon certification, IDA works with certified places to promote their work through media relations, member communications and social media. An International Dark Sky Place designation helps enhance the visibility of designated locations and foster increased tourism and local economic activity.

Here are some guidelines that are required to comply with a dark sky certification:

• Installing quality outdoor lighting could cut energy use by 60-70%, save billions of dollars and cut carbon emissions.
• Outdoor lighting should be fully shielded and should direct light down where it’s needed, not into the sky.
• Fully shielded fixtures can provide the same level of illumination on the ground as unshielded ones, but with less energy and cost.
• Unnecessary indoor lighting — particularly in empty office buildings at night —should be turned off.

New lighting technologies can help conserve energy

• LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs) can help reduce energy use and protect the environment, but only warm-white bulbs should be used. 
• Dimmers, motion sensors and timers can help to reduce average illumination levels and save even more energy.

International Dark Sky Week is celebrated April 22- May 1.

To learn more about Dark Sky Communities, visit www.darksky.org