How to Reduce Light Pollution

More and more research about how to reduce light pollution has on humans and wildlife is coming to light (pun intended). As the population of the planet increases, so does the amount of homes, businesses, parking lots, schools, airports and roadways. All these structures need electricity.

Humans demand electricity. We want our homes more comfortable and we  want our streets safe. The problem is that researchers are finding that our demand for the electricity that powers the world  is having a negative impact on humans and wildlife as well.

Less than 10 years ago I drove to a less populated section of my town and sat in the middle of the road to watch a spectacular meteor shower. The area was devoid of homes, street lights and traffic. If I did that today, first off I wouldn’t be able to see the meteor shower due to the street lights, and I would surely be run over by a car. Urban sprawl has taken over those once sparsely populated areas.

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Light pollution has always been a problem for those interested in Astrology, but now scientist are finding that light pollution like carbon dioxide pollution has a negative impact of life. If you have ever flown on a clear night , you have seen the beautiful view of  magnificence light, but remember beauty comes at some cost because the show of lights is wasted electricity.

Mike Martin, Director of Touch Tanks for Kids said this at a meeting organized to address pollution issues,

“Observe a row of street lights to watch how much of the light shines upwarde, it lights the sky and is a total waste of electricity. With the millions of streetlights worldwide, this is a serious problem.”

The generation of that electricity creates pollution including the emitting of greenhouse gasses. This affects air and water quality and reduces quality of life, but we can’t eliminate all outdoor lighting because we need to keep our streets and parking lots safe.

Scientists are now studying the effects of light pollution on wildlife. Many creatures are nocturnal and depend on darkness to hunt, navigate and to even to breed. They have biological rhythms that are being profoundly affected by light pollution.

Birds use the moon and the stars to navigate and migrate and are the species most affected by light pollution. Thousands of birds die each year when they crash into highly lit buildings, as they become disoriented by the light. Even the birds of sea that depend on the bioluminescent plankton to feed, are being drawn to lit structures along the shore. It has been long know that tiny sea turtle hatchlings become disorientated and follow lights on the shore instead to heading towards the sea.

Action Plan to Reduce Light Pollution:

1.  Turn off all unnecessary lights in our home. Much of the lights we use indoors spills outside and contributes to light pollution.

2.Avoid the use of extensive unnecessary decorative lighting on our homes.

3.Install motion sensor lights where possible.

4.Install outdoor lighting that limits the amount of light that escapes upward.

5.Don’t turn on lights every time you go outdoors. If it is safe, go out in the dark and enjoy the night sky.
6.Get involved in educating your neighbors and city officials about light pollution.

7.Install low wattage lighting fixtures when possible.

8.Install timers on lights.

Light pollution is easy to reduce! Following these guidelines and continue to read the information offered by Greenville Eco family to learn how to  reduce light pollution and your contribution to pollution, in general.

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