Take the
pledge

For the sake of migrating birds, human health, and the planet, the Lights Out DC campaign is asking residents and businesses within the District of Columbia to turn off lights from April 1 to May 31 and August 15 to November 15 between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

City street lamp lit next to an office building at night

Commercial & Property Management

  • Turn off non-essential outdoor lights (all lighting should have a clear purpose)  

  • Limit exterior lighting to ground level for wayfinding

  • Outdoor lights should point downwards (shielding on fixtures helps direct beams downward)

  • Use outdoor decorative lighting prudently or not at all

  • Put outdoor lights on timers and/or motion sensors

  • Use warmer colored light (more yellow, less blue)

  • Turn off roof lighting

  • Extinguish spotlights, floodlights, and strobe lights

  • Reduce lobby and atrium lighting

  • Turn off unnecessary interior lighting

  • Substitute task and area lighting for workers staying late

  • Draw blinds and shades when using indoor lighting after dark

We also encourage homes and buildings to remediate glass to reduce bird collisions. Contact the Lights Out DC program for more information and to arrange an assessment for your building(s): lodc.cw@gmail.com.

Residential &
Small Business

  • Turn off non-essential outdoor lights (all lighting should have a clear purpose)

  • Limit exterior lighting to ground level for wayfinding; outdoor lights should point downwards (shielding helps direct beams down)

  • Dim any lights that must be left on and use warmer colored lights (more yellow, less blue)

  • Put outdoor lighting on timers and/or motion sensors

  • Use outdoor decorative lighting prudently or not at all

  • Draw blinds and shades when using indoor lighting after dark