Have you ever been frustrated about not being able to view the beautiful night sky because of the glare of city lights? Have you ever considered buying blackout curtains because neighborhood lights are disturbing your ability to sleep well?
Most of us become aware of light pollution through its impact on our lives; that certainly has been the case for me. But intrusive lights that disrupt our sleep and interfere with our ability to enjoy the night sky are just two of the effects of light pollution. It’s harmful to wildlife, disturbing migration patterns and nocturnal behaviors. It’s suspected of harming human health as it disrupts our own daily rhythms. Our heavy use of light at night also increases carbon dioxide emissions.
Fortunately, light pollution is one of the easiest forms of pollution to reverse. The best way to start your journey toward fighting light pollution? Educate yourself. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a great resource for learning more about light pollution and ways to change light usage at night.
Take a look at your own light usage. Are you using lights that aren’t necessary? Is the lighting you use appropriate for the task? I wish a couple of my neighbors who keep outdoor lights on all night long would ask themselves these questions; their lights are bright and directed in such a way that they are very visible. IDA’s website suggests how to approach neighbors about intrusive lighting; I haven’t felt bold enough to talk with my neighbors, in part because we use blackout curtains. Perhaps if my personal pain were greater, I’d chat with them about their lighting.
Let other people know about light pollution. The folks in your life who love to look at the night sky are very aware of this, but with the well-deserved attention to other environmental issues like climate change and plastic in the oceans, light pollution may fall off people’s radars. Share what you’re learning on social media, or bring it up in appropriate venues, such as a city meeting about lighting ordinances or on work teams that are discussing environmental issues.
I see these as three of the easiest and most effective ways to handle light pollution, but IDA has several more suggestions. What will you do this week to take a step toward restoring our night skies?