A satellite photo of the earth at night provides a colorful indication of where cities and towns are located. The east and west coasts of the United States are lit up like a swarm of fireflies, along with the big cities of Europe and elsewhere. These images can also indicate when a city or region has “gone dark” because of a power outage. But there is a cost to all that light pointed at the night sky. Bright lights pose a threat to animal and plant life, and they also represent wasted energy—estimated to be in the billions of dollars for electricity in the United States alone.
It's hard to get the feeling that we are a part of something enormously bigger than ourselves. When I walk out at night to take a short walk with my dog, I can see two constellations and maybe Venus, Mars and scattered stars on a clear night. I can see Orion’s belt and the Big Dipper. The other stars and our edgewise galaxy would be visible but for all the wasted light coming from the streetlights, our neighbors’ security lights, and downtown Walnut Creek. Not only does this “light pollution” waste energy and adversely impact the health of living things, but it also robs many of us from seeing the wonder of a star filled night. Beethoven might not have been inspired to write his symphonies, and what would Van Gough’s “Starry Night” look like without the stars?
Research shows that light pollution at night can interfere with our sleep patterns and the circadian rhythms of humans and other animals; disrupt foraging patterns and interfere with predator/prey relationships; and can influence when trees begin to shed their leaves in the fall. Light pollution coming through our bedroom windows can suppress the hormone melatonin, which helps us sleep and is even involved in tumor suppression.
You can fight light pollution by buying efficient and shielded outside lighting. Shielded lighting directs light onto the sidewalk to keep us safe coming home late at night instead of projecting it to the whole neighborhood and into the sky.
Here are some sources for more information about lights and light fixtures that limit light pollution.
The Dark Sky Society was founded by Englishwoman Susan Harder, and is a resource for information about the latest in lighting regulations, the best lighting and light fixtures to buy—what she calls "Good Lighting". It’s free to join and you can read up on the negative influence of light pollution on animals and plants as well as view video of Harder’s presentations at conferences. You can even read up on the topic of “Crime and Lighting” to debunk some urban myths. Like the one my roommate subscribed to when he installed bright lights on the outside of the house we shared to keep people from steeling our copper drainpipes. Unfortunately, that invited hundreds of crows to roost in the trees outside my bedroom at night—a “caw” tionary tale!
The Illuminating Engineering Society is over 100 years old and was founded to be an advocate for lighting education and research. They even have an app that gives you information about lighting physics, design, and best uses.
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a good source of information and advocacy for good lighting. You can find some dramatic photographs showing what our night sky would look like to the naked eye without light pollution.
Volt Lighting, an online store, offers “Dark-Sky Approved” outdoor lighting for sale.
You can shop locally for light-pollution-fighting lights and fixtures at Lamps Plus and Home Depot.
(Photo by Phil Botha on Unsplash)
Replies