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Councilman Donovan Richards Jr. has introduced a bill requiring most office high-rises to turn off the lights at night as a way to cut energy costs and help migratory birds.

Proposed bill would require high rises to turn off lights at night to save energy and help migrating birds

New York might lose its legendary reputation as the city that never sleeps. That’s if Councilman Donovan Richards Jr. gets his way. Richards has introduced a bill requiring most office high-rises to turn off the lights at night as a way to cut energy costs and help migratory birds.

Seventy-one percent of New Yorkers like the idea, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of 969 registered city voters. But the bill, one of the first in the city focusing on what supporters call “light pollution,” is causing concern among some residents who worry that dimming the lights could make the city less safe.

Richards’ proposal is aimed at commercial buildings at least 20 stories high, and requires them to turn off the lights after midnight if no one is inside.

It would exempt landmarks, such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, as well as the city’s brightest nighttime tourist draw, Times Square.

Richards said he was inspired in part by a trip to Paris last year. The City of Light has had office and shop buildings turning off their lights at night for the past couple of years.

But the Daily News of New York does not like the idea. “We’ll not go gentle: Keep New York City’s nighttime skyline bright and beautiful,” it headlined an editorial.

Bird lovers, on the other hand, say lowering the light level would also help migrating species, many of which fly through the night and can become confused and disoriented by bright city lights.

“It would be a wonderful message from New York City to do this,” said Susan Elbin, director of conservation and science for New York City Audubon.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last month that state buildings would turn off non-essential lights from 11pm to dawn through the spring and fall, peak bird migration times.

(i24news)

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