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 bi-monthly podcast that looks at all of the topics in and around our nighttime environment.
Host, Bill McGeeney, is joined by three guests to help walk you through the news around how artificial light at night impacts human culture, crime, and our environment. The path to neighborhood friendly starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you!
Featured Episodes
April 2026: Conquering Nature
Host: Bill McGeeney
Guests:
- Johan Eklöf, Author of Darkness Manifesto.
- Chetna Misra, Lightbahn.
- Leo Smith, ReduceLP.com.
I’m very excited about today’s guest lineup. I have with us someone who has been an inspiration to many of you listening at home, that being Mr. Johan Eklöf. Also with us today is Chetna Misra from the great organization, Lightbahn! And we welcome Leo Smith back.
This episode, you’ll hear about what happened between Leo and his recent suit against the Connecticut Court System! We also cover a lot of policy news – including some events down in Big Bend and New Zealand. You won’t want to miss that. And rounding out our health news, does night mode actually do anything for your health?
All this and much more on today’s episode of Light Pollution News!
April 2026: Mandate Controls
Host: Bill McGeeney
Guests:
- Johan Eklöf, Author of Darkness Manifesto.
- Chetna Misra, Lightbahn.
- Leo Smith, ReduceLP.com.
I welcome back our great guests this month, including Darkness Manifesto’s Johan Eklöf. Lightbahn’s Chetna Misra, and Leo Smith, a man who’s single handedly trying to have the Connecticut Court System be held to the law of the land.
In the news this episode, were the lights in Waveland golf course really going to be that bad? A rainbow laser that stayed on until 3 AM and blasted 60 miles out to sea! And we cover some ecology news. You’ll want to stay to the very end, as I have a very brief but great little piece of listener feedback.
Let’s jump into this episode of Light Pollution News!
May 2026: Reverse Vertigo
Host: Bill McGeeney
Guests:
- Megan Eaves-Egenes, Author of Nightfaring – In Search of the Disappearing Darkness.
- Barrington Russell, founder of DarkSkySites.com.
- Paul Marchant, Statistician.
Welcome, friends, to May’s first episode of Light Pollution News! This episode, I welcome someone whose writing you’ve probably read, and are probably really familiar with! Well, she has a new book coming out – Megan Eaves joins the show! And, I have a man who built a website you’ll need to know about, that being Barrington Russell! Also, with us today is a statistician who will help keep us honest about our methodology, Mr. Paul Marchant!
This episode, how one night in Bali can change your world! How light can change the behavior of toads. And ants that can plot the movements of the moon…intuitively, they’re not sitting there drawing diagrams!
All this and much more, including some fun astrotourism talk, on this episode of Light Pollution News!
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