Reducing Light Pollution: Strategies For A Brighter Tomorrow

Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It has harmful effects on wildlife, ecosystems, energy consumption, and human health. Light pollution can disorient migrating birds and sea turtles, attract insects, and negatively impact human sleep patterns and health. With 80% of the global population living under light-polluted skies, it is essential to address this issue. The good news is that there are several simple ways to reduce light pollution and bring back the natural night sky.

Turn off lights when not in use

Turning off lights when they are not in use is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce light pollution. This applies to both indoor and outdoor lighting.

For indoor lighting, it is a good practice to only use the lights that you need. For example, if you are leaving a room, turn off the lights. This not only helps to reduce light pollution but also lowers your energy costs. Similarly, when you go to sleep, turn off all the lights. If you need some light, a small night light or motion sensor lights are good alternatives.

Another way to reduce light pollution is to keep the blinds, shades, curtains, and drapes closed at night. This prevents indoor light from escaping outside and contributing to light pollution.

Outdoor lighting is also a significant contributor to light pollution. Lights that are left on outside when not in use, such as in empty parking lots or on building exteriors, can brighten the night sky unnecessarily and waste energy. To reduce light pollution, it is important to ensure that outdoor lights are properly shielded and directed downwards, minimising light spillage into the sky.

By adopting these simple measures, individuals can play a crucial role in reducing light pollution and its negative impacts on the environment, wildlife, and human health.

Use fewer lights when inside

Using fewer lights when inside is a great way to reduce light pollution. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

Use Only What You Need

The golden rule of reducing light pollution is to only light what you need to and when you need to. So, when inside, ask yourself if you really need all the lights on. Perhaps you can get by with just a lamp or two, or maybe you prefer low, ambient lighting. Using fewer lights will not only reduce light pollution but will also lower your energy costs.

Install Dimmers

Consider installing dimmers in every room. This will allow you to use less light overall while still giving you the flexibility to adjust the lighting to your needs.

Keep Window Coverings Closed at Night

After the sun sets, close your blinds, drapes, or window shades to keep your indoor lights from escaping. Not only will this reduce light pollution, but it will also give you more privacy, especially if you live in close quarters such as an apartment building.

Unplug from Devices

Reducing screen time is beneficial for your health and can also help reduce light pollution. Make it a rule to unplug from devices like computers, laptops, and phones after dinner. You can also switch these devices to a night mode setting after dark to reduce their impact on light pollution.

Use Downward-Facing Lights

When light points upward, it contributes to artificial sky glow. Install light shields for any indoor lighting setups to help direct the light downward. This will not only reduce light pollution but will also create a cozier atmosphere in your space.

By following these tips and being mindful of your indoor lighting choices, you can help reduce light pollution and enjoy the beauty of a starry night sky.

Keep blinds and drapes closed at night

Keeping the blinds and drapes closed at night is an effective way to reduce light pollution. Light escaping through windows contributes to the light pollution outdoors. Closing the blinds, shades, curtains, or drapes at night is a simple yet powerful way to prevent light from spilling out into the environment.

This practice not only helps to reduce light pollution but also enhances privacy, especially in close quarters such as apartment or hotel buildings. By adopting this habit, individuals can play a direct role in mitigating the harmful effects of light pollution on the environment, human health, and wildlife.

Light pollution, caused by excessive or inappropriate artificial lighting, has severe consequences. It disrupts nocturnal ecosystems, interferes with the natural rhythms of plants and animals, negatively impacts human health and safety, and wastes energy. By keeping window coverings closed at night, individuals can help minimize these detrimental effects.

Additionally, this simple action can lead to financial savings. Reducing light pollution by keeping blinds and drapes closed at night decreases energy consumption, resulting in lower electricity costs. This not only benefits individuals but also contributes to a more sustainable future by reducing the emissions associated with energy production.

By embracing this simple habit, everyone can make a meaningful contribution to the global movement to decrease light pollution and protect the natural night sky.

Avoid driving at night

Driving at night is a major contributor to light pollution. Headlights from cars can degrade the night sky, and in built-up areas, the cumulative effect of car lights, streetlights, and lights from buildings can severely impact the view of the night sky.

Night driving also has a detrimental effect on wildlife. Artificial light at night can disrupt nocturnal ecosystems, interfere with the natural rhythms of plants and animals, and attract insects, making them easier prey for birds. Light pollution can disorientate migrating birds and newly-hatched sea turtles, and it can also negatively impact the foraging and reproduction habits of amphibians.

To reduce light pollution, it is recommended that people avoid driving at night unless it is absolutely necessary. This has the added benefit of being safer for the driver, as night driving is more dangerous than driving during the day. There are several reasons for this:

• Poor visibility: At night, drivers are completely dependent on artificial light sources, such as headlights, which only allow us to see a small portion of the road ahead. Our peripheral vision is also not as sharp in the dark, and it is more difficult to gauge distances and movement.
• Fatigue: Driver fatigue is a major risk, with a National Sleep Foundation poll finding that 60% of adults have driven while tired, and 37% have fallen asleep at the wheel.
• Alcohol: Despite anti-drink driving campaigns, alcohol remains a significant factor in night-time crashes.
• Impaired drivers: Drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol are most frequently on the road after dark, particularly between midnight and 3 am on weekends.
• Rush hour: Evening rush hour is a dangerous time to drive, with more crowded roadways and drivers eager to get home. In winter, it is often dark during this time, compounding the issue.
• Compromised night vision: As we age, our eyesight deteriorates, and we need more light to see clearly. Older drivers may also have compromised vision due to cataracts and degenerative eye diseases.

Use night shift settings on devices

The screens of devices such as home computers, laptops, phones, and tablets emit a large quantity of blue light, which can disrupt your sleep at night. This is because blue light stimulates your brain and tricks it into thinking it's daytime, potentially keeping you awake if you use your device before bedtime.

To reduce light pollution, you can use the night shift settings on your devices. Night Shift is a feature available on Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Macs, as well as on Windows PCs and many Android devices. It automatically adjusts the colors of your display to the warmer end of the spectrum, making the display easier on your eyes.

Here's how to set up Night Shift on your devices:

Apple Devices

• Open Control Center, touch and hold the Brightness control icon, then tap the Night Shift button to turn it on or off.
• Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Night Shift. Here, you can schedule a time for Night Shift to turn on and off automatically and adjust the color temperature. By default, Night Shift is on from sunset to sunrise.
• For Macs, go to System Settings > Displays and click the Night Shift button in the lower right corner. You can then manually turn on Night Shift, schedule it to turn on automatically, and adjust the color temperature.

Windows PCs

For Windows 10 or 11 PCs, go to Settings > System > Display and toggle the Night Light switch to turn on the feature. You can then adjust the color temperature using the slider. You can also put the feature on a schedule from sunset to sunrise or set specific times for it to turn on and off.

Android Devices

Most Android devices have built-in blue light filters that can be enabled or disabled from the Settings screen. Typically, you can find the filter under Settings > Display. The filter may be called Night Light, Blue Light Filter, or Eye Comfort Shield (on Samsung devices). You can then schedule the feature and adjust the color temperature to your preference.

By using the night shift settings on your devices, you can help reduce light pollution and improve your sleep quality.

Frequently asked questions