Meghan Hodges
Light pollution is a human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally, and it has harmful effects on the environment, wildlife habitats, and our quality of life. While it may seem like a daunting task, there are many simple ways to reduce light pollution that individuals, institutions, and governments can implement. For example, individuals can use less light by adopting nature-friendly outdoor lighting, using light shields, and switching to LED lights, while governments can establish dark-sky places and implement policies to limit light pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lighting type | Use warm-colored bulbs, LEDs, compact fluorescents (CFLs), and warm-white, yellow, or amber light. |
| Lighting fixtures | Use light shields, shades, or covers to minimize glare and light trespass, and direct light downward. |
| Lighting duration | Use lights only when needed, and for the shortest duration. |
| Lighting controls | Use dimmers, motion sensors, and timers to limit light usage. |
| Lighting brightness | Use the least amount of light necessary. |
| Lighting purpose | Use light only for a specific purpose, not aesthetics. |
| Lighting and safety | Ensure lighting is balanced with safety concerns, especially for women and people from dangerous neighborhoods. |
| Lighting and wildlife | Consider the impact of lighting on wildlife interactions and habitats. |
| Legislation and advocacy | Advocate for and enact local legislation to address light pollution. Support the establishment of "dark-sky places" with management plans to minimize light pollution. |
| Energy and emissions | Reducing light pollution saves energy and reduces emissions, benefiting energy consumers financially and helping to mitigate climate change. |
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What You'll Learn
Using light shields to direct light downward
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It has harmful effects on the environment, wildlife habitats, and our quality of life. Light shields are one of the many solutions to this problem.
Light shields, also known as light shrouds or glare shields, are accessories that can be attached to the top and/or sides of light fixtures. They are designed to control the direction of light from fixtures like floodlights, streetlights, and parking lot lamps. By focusing the light beam more directly downward, light shields prevent light trespass and glare, improve night vision, and enhance aesthetics.
Light shields are especially useful when concentrated illumination is required for a specific area, like a driveway or path, without lighting up the entire area. They are also valuable for anyone concerned about energy efficiency, as they can reduce power usage and lower electricity bills. Additionally, they can improve safety near roads or walkways by reducing glare and enhancing visibility in shadows.
Light shields can be made from materials such as metal or plastic and can be purchased as simple clip-on hoods or designed for specific fixtures. They are a smart and cost-effective way to control outdoor lighting and improve the quality of the night sky.
Overall, using light shields to direct light downward is an effective strategy to reduce light pollution, enhance safety, improve energy efficiency, and restore natural darkness to our surroundings.
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Reducing light usage and using motion sensors
Light pollution is a human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It has harmful effects on the environment, wildlife habitats, and our quality of life. To reduce light pollution, one can reduce light usage and use motion sensors.
Reducing Light Usage
Reducing light usage is one of the ways to reduce light pollution. Firstly, it is important to only use outdoor lights when necessary. For example, one does not need to shine a light from dusk to dawn over their backyard. Instead, it is recommended to use lights only when they are truly needed. Similarly, indoor lighting should be turned off when not in use, especially in empty office buildings at night, to prevent light leakage into the night sky.
Secondly, when using flashlights or headlights outside, one should always point them down to the ground. This is because when light points upward, it contributes directly to artificial sky glow. This can be further applied by using window shades to keep room lights from escaping your house or hotel room.
Thirdly, the use of blue lights at night should be avoided. Outdoor lighting with strong blue content is likely to worsen sky glow because it has a significantly larger geographic reach than lighting consisting of less blue. Blue-rich white light sources are also known to increase glare and compromise human vision, especially in the aging eye.
Lastly, reducing the use of devices in the evening can help reduce light pollution. The bright lights of devices such as home computers, laptops, iPads, and phones can contribute more to light pollution than regular room lights, especially when multiple family members are using them.
Using Motion Sensors
Motion sensors can be used to reduce light pollution by ensuring that lights beam only when needed. For example, motion sensor lights can be used for safety during midnight bathroom breaks. Similarly, timers can be used to reduce average illumination levels and save energy.
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Switching to LED lights
While LED lights emit bright rays that can contribute to light pollution, well-designed LED lamps can reduce the amount of wasted light emitted without compromising visibility or human experience. A study led by Dr. Kyba of GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences found that LED street lights have a lesser impact on the night sky than other lighting products.
LED lights are also being used to reduce light pollution in specific spaces such as airports, the National Aquarium, and the 100-foot-tall Christmas tree in New York's Rockefeller Centre. The city of Port Townsend is another example of a place that has switched to LED lights to reduce lighting costs and light pollution.
To further reduce light pollution, it is recommended that only warm-coloured LED bulbs are used. "Warm" toned or filtered LEDs (CCT 3000 K or lower; S/P ratio 1.2 or lower) should be used to minimise blue emission, which is known to increase glare and compromise human vision.
In addition to switching to LED lights, there are other ways to reduce light pollution. For example, using window shades to block room lights from escaping, reducing the use of devices in the evening, and installing light shields for any outdoor lighting setups to direct light downward.
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Using warm-coloured bulbs
Light pollution is a human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It harms the environment, wildlife habitats, and our quality of life. It is linked to natural habitat disruption and has negative impacts on human health. It also interferes with the aesthetic beauty of the environment.
LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs) can help reduce energy use and protect the environment, but only warm-coloured bulbs should be used. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) recommends that only warm light sources be used for outdoor lighting. This includes Low-pressure Sodium (LPS), High-pressure Sodium (HPS), and low-color-temperature LEDs.
The best temperature for warm-coloured bulbs is 2,700 Kelvin or lower, which glows towards the redder end of the spectrum. The warmer the colour temperature, the better it is for humans and wildlife. It also gives a more aesthetically pleasing, cosy glow, instead of that of a dentist’s waiting room.
When using flashlights or headlights outside to illuminate your way, always try to point them down to the ground. This is because when light points upward, it contributes directly to artificial sky glow. This is also good practice if you do any night hiking, whether in the city or in rural areas.
Dimmers, motion sensors, and timers can help to reduce average illumination levels and save even more energy.
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Establishing dark-sky places
The International Dark Sky Places program, led by DarkSky International, is at the forefront of this movement. With over 70 chapters worldwide, they work with communities, universities, nonprofits, and businesses to certify and conserve starry sky parks, communities, and other places.
To achieve certification, dark-sky places must meet several criteria. Firstly, they must have a comprehensive management plan to minimise light pollution. This includes responsible lighting policies, such as using shielded fixtures that direct light downward, reducing glare, and minimising blue light, which has a more significant impact on sky glow.
Additionally, dark-sky places must engage with local communities, companies, and agencies to foster good outdoor lighting practices. This includes educating the public about the harmful effects of light pollution on humans, wildlife, and the climate, as well as establishing lawful requirements for outdoor lighting through partnerships with local governments to pass lighting ordinances.
By establishing dark-sky places, communities can take meaningful action to reduce light pollution, preserve the beauty of the night sky, and protect the environment and wildlife habitats. It empowers individuals, institutions, and governments to adopt nature-friendly lighting practices and make a positive impact on the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Some simple ways to reduce light pollution include:
- Using window shades to prevent room lights from escaping your house.
- Minimising the use of headlights by avoiding driving at night.
- Pointing flashlights or headlights towards the ground instead of upwards.
- Reducing the use of electronic devices in the evening.
- Using light shields for any outdoor lighting set-ups to help direct the light downward.
LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs) can help reduce energy use and protect the environment. Warm-coloured bulbs should be used, such as warm-white, yellow, or amber lights, as these aid night vision for animals and people.
Light pollution harms wildlife habitats and can disrupt wildlife behaviour. For example, thousands of migrating birds are killed each year due to unnecessary artificial light at night. It also threatens aquatic ecosystems by increasing the risk of harmful algae blooms.
Light pollution impacts our quality of life by reducing our access to beautiful night skies. It also affects our health by disrupting our natural sleep cycles.
There is a growing movement to establish "dark-sky places", which are areas with management plans to minimise light pollution and preserve natural darkness. Over 350 of these places exist worldwide. Additionally, countries like France, Slovenia, and Croatia have implemented policies to limit light pollution.
