Birds, insects, mammals, and even humans, evolved a circadian rhythm. The balance between day and night has tipped decidedly toward 24 hour daytime. Below are estimated impacts by the International Dark Sky Association.
Light Pollution News
A Podcast Shedding the Light Only Where Needed
Featured Episodes
August 2024: Checking the Box!
Host: Bill McGeeney
Guests:
- Betty Buckley, Filmmaker of the Stars at Night.
- Leo Smith, Coalition to Reduce Light Pollution
Today, we talk drones vs. fireworks, what is your best recourse when a neighboring business plops on bright lights all night, and what’s this I hear about a new dark sky park in Pennsylvania?
This month, I’m joined by Betty Buckley who made this great film, the Stars at Night – and by Leo Smith, who is now starting up a new Coalition to Reduce Light Pollution!
August 2024: A Right to Night!
Host: Bill McGeeney
Guests:
- Betty Buckley, Filmmaker of the Stars at Night.
- Leo Smith, Coalition to Reduce Light Pollution
Are street lights long for this world? And would more people feel safe in unlit spaces if we took a harder line on preventing crime? Oh, and Fireflies in Indonesia – learn what one conservation group is doing to bring back fireflies!
We finish up our August show, joined by Betty Buckley of the film, the Stars at Night, and Leo Smith, who’s working to grow his new Coalition to Reduce Light Pollution!
September 2024: Totality of Impact!
Host: Bill McGeeney
Guests:
- Shelana deSilva, Deputy District Superintendent for the North Coast Redwoods District of California State Parks.
- Yana Yakushina, Lawyer and Researcher.
- John Barentine, Dark Sky Consultant.
This month! We look at the Olympic’s opening ceremony which featured a spectacular light show at the Eiffel Tower. We look at a student study that examined the impact of artificial grow lighting on stadium pitches. And SpaceX’s plan to deploy 7500 Gen2 Starlink satellites was approved by the US Court of Appeals – a lot to discuss this month with an expert panel featuring the equitable conservationist, Shelana deSilva, lawyer and satellite researcher, Yana Yakushina, and, consultant, John Barentine.
Helpful Tips!
Solution to Reduce Light Pollution: 10 Easy Ways
When we start thinking about the issue of light pollution, like many other environmental issues, it can seem like an impossible problem to fix. Luckily, light pollution is technically the most easily reversible form of pollution. If you are interested in reducing light pollution, the best way to start is at home. We have 10 easy steps you can follow to inventory your home lighting to decrease the amount of light pollution coming from your home.
How Many Lumens Do You Need for Outdoor Lighting?
When installing or replacing outdoor lights, brightness of the lights (lumens) is an important factor that needs to be considered. The amount of lumens needed will depend on the application. This will range from 12-800 lumens depending on the purpose of the light.
We recommend going on the lower end when possible, this will not only save on energy costs, but it will help to decrease your contribution to light pollution. You can also add additional lights, or go with a brighter light bulb if you find you need a brighter light for your outdoor lighting.
Best Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Your Backyard Landscape.
Many people put a lot of time, money, and effort into their outdoor spaces. Lights are a great way to enjoy your outdoor living space at all times of the day. We believe that less is more when it comes to lighting. Too much lighting and everything will be bathed in a generic glow, the play of light and shadows allows for a much more dramatic effect and will allow certain areas and features to be highlighted. We have some great dark sky friendly lighting options for all your outdoor lighting needs.
Do We Need All Of That Light?
Protect Our Night
Annual Estimated Cost of Exterior Lighting
50B USD
US Department of Energy Estimated Percentage Resulting in Wasted Light
99%
Annual American Consumption of Outdoor Lighting.
308 tWH
Light Pollution in Numbers
Excess and Unnecessary Light Have Consequences.
875,000,000
Trees Needed to Offset CO2 Emissions from Outdoor Lighting in the US Per Year, via the International Dark Sky Association.
99%
Americans and Europeans who can’t see the Milky Way, per National Geographic.
1,000,000,000
Estimated bird deaths annually due to factors including building lights, per NPR
2x
Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans are 2x more likely to live in heavily light polluted environments according to 2020 Study.
