Keeping the Night Skies Dark
By Karina | December 31, 2007
So, now that the holiday season is over, and I’ve mentioned the amazing draw that is holiday light decorations, we should probably talk about light pollution.
You’ve probably all seen the composite satellite image of the earth from space - the lights visible from so far away are amazing!
The New Jersey Astronomical Association states that “nationally more than 30% of the electricity generated for outdoor illumination is simply squandered by being misdirected into the sky. That comes to $4.5 billion annually.” And on top of that, because of excessive lights in urban and suburban areas, the migratory paths of birds can be disrupted and birds can become confused and fly into brightly lit buildings. In Toronto, the Fatal Light Awareness Program works to save birds who have struck buildings and to raise awareness of this problem. New York City skyscrapers have dimmed their lights in an effort to prevent bird collisions.The International Dark-Sky Association is a group that evaluates light fixtures with the following goals:
- Stop the adverse effects of light pollution, including;
- Energy waste, and the air and water pollution caused by energy waste
- Harm to human health
- Harm to nocturnal wildlife and ecosystems
- Reduced safety and security
- Reduced visibility at night
- Poor nighttime ambiance; and
- Raise awareness about light pollution, its adverse effects, and its solutions; and
- Educate about the values of quality outdoor lighting.
But what can we do? none of us (I seriously doubt) own a skyscraper and can go shut off the lights every night. Here are a few tips I’ve come across during my research:
- If you use outdoor or indoor lights, try to use them at the lowest possible intensity to avoid over-kill.
- Use a timer or a motion sensor on outdoor lights to prevent over-use.
- If you are able to, install lighting fixtures that direct the light more accurately and purposefully. Try fixtures that aim the light down instead of allowing it to go up. and always ask yourself before putting in more lights: is this necessary?
Most effectively: go outside and look at the stars. Check out an online astronomy almanac or weekly star guide and head out with some friends and loved ones to take a peak at the greatest light display we can ever hope to see. Take control over what you see in the night sky and become invested in it. Then start to see what you can do locally to preserve the view.
More information about the International Dark Sky Association from Astronomy Magazine.
Topics: Home |
The title should say “skies.”
goodness, thank you!
Thanks for writing about this. I researched light pollution a bit in grad school, such a fascinating topic. From the disruptive effects of beach lighting on sea turtle hatchlings to light trespass, glare and light clutter, the realities of inefficient lighting are pronounced. The subject also poses larger questions as to the evolution of humans’ relationship to their (natural) environment, the utter blurring of distinctions between day and night as well as the potential linguistic and cultural loss as night loses meaning. If you really want to geek out, read Wolfgang Schivelbusch’s ”Disenchanted Night”.
Hey Kasey! Thanks for the book recommendation– I’m curious as to how there’s a potential to linguistic loss– can you explain?
[…] Keeping the Night Skies Dark […]
Does anyone have any ideas for activism on turning off the lights in your neighborhood? We live in a fairly rural area and have had a three new families in the past 5 months. All of them leave the lights a’blazing. I’d like to approach them lovingly and with friendly intentions.
Help?
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