Question
Hi, our development requires downcast lighting to reduce light pollution but when I try to find downcast lighting all I see are ordinances by developments and such and no retailers specifically noting "downcast". Do you know of such a place or do I just need to search through the hundreds of lamp posts looking for something with a cap of some sort on the top?  Thanks much in advance.

Answer
"Downcast" is a pretty broad term...Where I live, they also call it "cut-off" or "shielded" lighting.  Its all part of an effort to promote "dark skys", and lowering light pollution & light spillover.

If it is a development specific requirement, then it sounds like you have to propose a fixture, then let some sort of committee approve of your selection.

As you have discovered, your options are quite large!  Also, depends on if you choose 110-volt or low-voltage fixtures.  Generally, the wattage on low voltage is much, much less than on a 110 system, plus, you don't need an electrician to install low-voltage.

I would pour through the catalogs or online, and pick a few that you like (say 4 or 5), print them out for the reviewing Board/Association/Committee, etc. to either accept of decline as being "downcast" enough for their interpretation or that term.

I listed a whole bunch of manufactures online in a previous question, but I think they labeled it "private", so here is the abbriviated list again for you and everybody else. It is nowhere near complete; just a list of my current residential lighting catalogs - it is a robust market!:

Focus Landscape Lighting (California): focusindustries.com
Progress Lighting (So Carolina): progresslighting.com
Vista Lighting: (Ca.): Vistapro.com
LSI Industries(Texas): lsi-industries.com
Hadco (Penn.): hadcolighting.com
FXLuminaire (San Diego, CA): FXL.com
Unique Lighting (?): Uniquelighting.com
In-lite/Eclairage paysager (Canada): in-lite.com

You mentioned a "pole", so if it is a larger fixture you are looking for, here are a few heavy-duty lighting manufactures to look into:

Sternburglighting.com  (the "Cadillac" of ornamental lights)
Kingluminaire.com

Each manufacturer usually has some selection of lights for lowered output, to address this growing "light pollution" concern.

Regards -Marc