Reducing Light And Noise Pollution: Simple Steps For Better Health

Light and noise pollution are significant environmental issues that can have detrimental effects on human health, wildlife, and ecosystems. Light pollution, caused by poorly designed and excessive artificial lighting, obscures our view of the night sky and disrupts the migration of birds and breeding patterns of nocturnal animals. Noise pollution, stemming from various sources such as transportation, industrial activities, and everyday appliances, can lead to hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and increased stress levels. Addressing these issues is crucial for preserving the natural world, protecting human health, and enhancing our quality of life. This paragraph introduces the topic of 'how to reduce light and noise pollution' by highlighting the negative impacts of these pollutants and underscoring the importance of finding solutions.

Use low wattage, warm-coloured bulbs

Using low wattage, warm-coloured bulbs is a straightforward way to reduce light pollution. While this may not be possible for every piece of outdoor lighting in a city, it can make a significant contribution to reducing light pollution on an urban scale.

LED outdoor lighting, while energy-efficient, often emits a blue light that increases light pollution. This is due to the blue light's significantly larger geographic reach compared to lighting with less blue light. Blue-rich white light sources are also known to increase glare and compromise human vision, especially for older people. In natural settings, blue light at night has been shown to adversely affect wildlife behaviour and reproduction, particularly for migratory species that pass through cities.

Therefore, opting for low-wattage, warm-white lighting is a more suitable alternative. The Spanish city of Vélez-Málaga, for example, adopted a dimmable warm-white light system for its streets, resulting in lower wattage lighting on demand and better illumination of its historic streets.

When choosing LED bulbs, look for "warm-toned" or "filtered" LEDs with a correlated colour temperature (CCT) of 3000 Kelvin (K) or lower, and an S/P ratio of 1.2 or lower. These bulbs will minimise blue emissions, reducing their impact on the environment and human health.

Minimise indoor and outdoor light leakage

Light pollution is a growing problem, with 83% of the global population living under a light-polluted sky. The good news is that it is one of the easiest pollutions to clean up. Taking steps to reduce light pollution doesn't mean living in the dark; it's about making light more efficient and beneficial.

Choose the Right Lighting Fixtures

Opt for shielded or fully shielded lighting fixtures that minimise glare and light trespass. These fixtures prevent light from spilling beyond the intended area, reducing light pollution and increasing safety in neighbourhoods. Examples include full cutoff fixtures, fully shielded wall packs, and shielded/properly-aimed PAR floodlights.

Targeted Lighting

Ensure that your lighting is directed only where it is needed. Use shielding and careful aiming to target the light beam downward, preventing it from spilling into unwanted areas. This not only reduces light pollution but also minimises energy wastage and potential safety hazards caused by glare and harsh shadows.

Low Light Levels

Use the lowest light levels required for your purpose. Avoid overly bright lighting, as it wastes energy and contributes to light pollution. Consider the surface conditions around your property, as certain surfaces reflect more light into the night sky.

Controlled Lighting

Use lighting controls such as dimmers, motion sensors, and timers to reduce light output and save energy. Only use light when it is needed, and consider turning off unnecessary indoor and outdoor lighting, especially in empty office buildings.

Warmer Colour Lights

When using outdoor lighting, opt for warmer colour temperatures like low-pressure sodium (pumpkin-coloured) or high-pressure sodium (orange-tinted) lights. Avoid harsh blue-white lights, as they can cause glare, disrupt the circadian rhythm, and have negative impacts on human health and wildlife behaviour.

Window Treatments

To minimise indoor light leakage, consider window treatments such as shades or blinds that block out light effectively. Choose outside mount installations, as they provide better coverage than inside mounts. For maximum light blockage, consider blackout liners or adhering light-blocking materials like aluminium foil or thick fabric to the edges of your windows.

Turn off appliances when not in use

Turning off appliances when they are not in use is a simple yet effective way to reduce light and noise pollution. This practice not only reduces unwanted noise, which can be unpleasant and stressful for your ears, but it also helps to lower your electricity usage, thereby reducing light pollution and saving you money.

At home or in the office, remember to turn off appliances such as televisions, computers, games consoles, and other electronic devices when you are finished using them. These appliances can create unnecessary noise, especially if they are left idle and running in the background. Turning them off will help create a quieter and more peaceful environment, reducing noise pollution's negative impact on your ears and overall well-being.

Additionally, turning off appliances will help conserve energy. Appliances that are left on but not in use can contribute to unnecessary light pollution, as their light emissions can escape into the night sky. By turning them off, you reduce the amount of artificial light that escapes into the environment, helping to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky.

To make it easier, consider using power strips, which allow you to turn off multiple appliances at once by switching off the power strip. This is especially useful for appliances that go into standby mode, such as computers and TVs, as they can still use a significant amount of electricity in this mode. By using power strips, you can ensure that no electricity is being wasted, and no unnecessary light is being emitted.

Another good practice is to unplug appliances when they are not in use. Even when turned off, some appliances may still draw a small amount of electricity if they remain plugged into an outlet. By unplugging them, you can completely eliminate any electricity usage, further reducing your impact on light pollution and lowering your energy costs.

Plant more trees

Trees are natural noise blockers and can help reduce light pollution. They act as noise barriers and reduce noise through a phenomenon called sound attenuation, which is the damping of sound. The more surfaces a tree has (leaves, needles, and branches), the better the noise reduction will be.

Trees reduce noise pollution through four mechanisms: absorption, deflection, refraction, and masking. Firstly, tree parts such as stems, leaves, branches, and wood absorb sound waves, with thick, rough barks and fleshy leaves being the most effective due to their dynamic surface area. Secondly, when sound waves hit massive tree trunks, they are reflected back towards the source without causing the trunks to vibrate because of their rigidity. Thirdly, sound waves can be refracted by passing through different mediums, such as the complex structures of tree crowns, which dampen noise pollution. Finally, trees mask annoying noises when branches sway, leaves rustle, or stems creak, creating sounds that are more pleasant to the human ear.

Trees also contribute to reducing light pollution by providing shade and blocking artificial light. The presence of trees can help regulate the amount of light that reaches the ground, reducing the intensity of artificial lighting and its impact on the environment.

According to the USDA, a 100-foot-wide tree barrier will reduce noise by 5 to 8 decibels (dBA). The percentage of noise reduction depends on factors such as the intensity, frequency, and direction of the sound, as well as the location, height, width, and density of the tree. A denser tree barrier with an open distance of 100 feet can reduce sound by 21 dB.

Some recommended tree species for noise reduction include Southern Magnolia, Leyland Cypress, Pittosporum, Abies, and Arborvitae. These trees are known for their dense foliage, rapid growth, and ability to act as effective noise filters.

In addition to trees, effective sound barriers can include shrubs, bushes, vines, and herbaceous plants, creating a diverse structure to prevent gaps and add varied textures to the environment.

Soundproof your space

Soundproofing your space can be a simple and affordable process. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Furniture and Decor

The simplest way to start soundproofing your space is by rearranging your furniture. Large pieces of furniture such as bookshelves, wardrobes, and sofas can serve as excellent sound absorbers. The dense materials used to construct these items can effectively trap and dissipate sound waves, preventing them from bouncing off hard surfaces and reducing echo and noise transmission.

Upholstered furniture, such as couches and sectionals, can also help absorb sound and dampen noises. The larger the piece, the better its sound-absorbing qualities. Enhance these qualities further by adding plush pillows and throws.

Bookcases and cabinets can also add mass to the wall or partition to effectively reduce sound transmission. Materials and objects with sufficient mass resist vibration and reduce sound transmission.

Windows and Doors

To soundproof your windows, you can add clear window inserts, install soundproof curtains, or add weatherstripping or caulk to window gaps. Window inserts are clear panes of glass or acrylic that are placed over existing windows, creating an airtight seal that reduces outside noise. Soundproof curtains are dense, heavy curtains that lie flat against the wall or window trim to block sound. Weatherstripping and caulk can be added to window cracks to reduce airflow and sound transmission.

For doors, you can add weatherproofing to seal gaps where sound may come through. Draft stoppers, door sweeps, and curtains can be used to seal the gap under the door. Hanging heavy blackout curtains over the door can also help absorb any noise that leaks through. Replacing hollow-core doors with solid-core doors is another effective option, as solid-core doors are made of solid wood or dense particleboard, which reduces the transmission of noise.

Walls and Ceilings

To soundproof your walls, you can add ordinary home decor pieces, such as tapestries and artwork, or install permanent or non-permanent soundproofing materials. Acoustic panels, acoustic foam, or drywall can be used to reduce sound transmission. Acoustic panels are boards or fabrics that are hung on walls to reduce sound, either by stopping noise from bouncing off hard surfaces or by blocking noise from entering through a door or window. Acoustic foam is made of soft, porous open-cell polyurethane, which absorbs sound vibrations. Drywall adds mass to a room's walls to prevent sound from traveling through thin walls.

To soundproof your ceiling, you can install non-permanent items like fabrics or permanent devices like ceiling clouds. Ceiling clouds are panels hung parallel to the ceiling that absorb sound waves.

Floors

To soundproof your floors, you can use soft floor coverings such as area rugs, runners, or pads. These reduce the sound of traffic and muffle other noises in the room. When installing hard flooring, make sure to use an underlayment of polyethylene foam, acoustic foam, or felt.

Sealants and Insulation

Filling cracks and gaps with an acoustic sealant is an important step in soundproofing your space. Acoustic sealants are designed to block sound waves and provide a protective acoustic layer between structures in your room. They are especially effective in older buildings, which often have more gaps and cracks.

Using soundproof insulation in cavity walls is another effective method. Cavity walls are the spaces between your interior and exterior walls, which can often be filled with air, allowing sound waves to travel through. Soundproof insulation acts as a barrier to these sounds and can be installed into the gaps within your cavity walls.

Frequently asked questions