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
December 2024: Say Light Pollution.
Host: Bill McGeeney
Guests:
- Dr. Travis Longcore, Adjunct Professor and Co-Chair of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
- Paul Bogard, author
This episode, what would cause the moon to drive up instances of road kill, we take a look at how some past cultures engaged with night, and is it really light pollution, or is it fright pollution?
This month, I’m very excited to be joined by two people you probably need no introduction for, Dr. Travis Longcore and author, Mr. Paul Bogard!
December 2024: Say Light Pollution.
Host: Bill McGeeney
Guests:
- Dr. Travis Longcore, Adjunct Professor and Co-Chair of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
- Paul Bogard, author
In this episode, China launches their version of Starlink – but how dim will they be? Hint, you’re not going to like the answer. Two communities push for more responsible lighting practices. And could you tell space junk apart from a meteor?
This month, I’m very excited to be joined by two people you probably need no introduction for, Dr. Travis Longcore and author, Mr. Paul Bogard!
January 2025: .02 Microwatts!
Host: Bill McGeeney
Guests:
- Dr. Mario Motta
- Glenn Heinmiller, lighting designer
- David Lefevre, advocate
Today, what should we make of all of these health studies? Lucky for us, we have Dr. Mario Motta on board to walk us through the recent health news!
And, do we have a shifting baseline syndrome when it comes to darkness? To help us answer this question and more, we welcome advocate, David Lefevre and lighting professional, Glenn Heinmiller!
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.