Have you ever noticed that the night sky is no longer inky black and full of stars like it used to be? Have you noticed the strange orangish glow that�s replaced it? The strange orangy glow is a form of light pollution referred to as sky glow.
Sky glow is probably the most recognizable aspect of light pollution. By far the largest segment of the population equates sky glow with light pollution. This is wonderful, as it shows a growing awareness of the problem. As a quick refresher, sky glow is the glow we see above cities and towns when viewed from a distance. The intensity of the sky glow is an indication of the quantity of exterior lighting which is wastefully shining up into the night sky.
To put the problem in perspective, estimates place the cost for the US alone in the neighborhood of$5-10 billion dollars annually. This is not the sum total of all outdoor lighting, this is just that portion of outdoor lighting that is so misdirected as to light up the night sky. This is an incredible sum of money to simply waste, and yet that’s exactly what we do year after year. In fact, the problem is actually increasin in magnitude and cost.
A consequence of sky glow is the dramatic reduction in the number of stars visible in the night sky. Under pristine conditions, some 4000-5000 stars may be seen. In the most light polluted cities, perhaps a dozen or two are visible. You may think that this only impacts astronomers, but you’d be wrong. We are all affected in a profound way. The human race has looked to the stars through out history in an attempt to understand our place in the universe. It is highly unfortunate that the most technologically advanced civilization to inhabit this planet should also be the most detached from the cosmos. It is no wonder that more and more people feel detached, alone and overwhelmed in our continuous motion society. They simply have lost their reference points and are unable to find their way.
Sky glow also changes the surrounding environment. In many areas, it never really gets dark at night. This seriously impacts local wildlife. Many species are simply unable to adapt. Sea turtles are a prime example. All sea turtles that inhabit Florida waters are either threatened or endangered, and according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, light pollution is a major contributing factor.
If you’d like to change this situation, its easy to do your part. Simply choose a night sky friendly light fixture. Night sky friendly lights put all the light they emit onto the ground beneath them and do not shine any wastefully up into the night sky. By choosing a night sky friendly outdoor light fixture for your home or business, you can feel better knowing that you are doing your part to reduce sky glow in your area and help to reclaim the majesty of the night sky.
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[...] Light pollution is a growing worldwide problem affecting vast areas of the earth. In a nutshell, Light Pollution is misdirected or misused light… generally resulting from an inappropriate application of outdoor lighting. Light Pollution comes in several flavors… sky glow, glare and light tresspass. Each has its own nasty impact on society. Fortunately, light pollution is one of the easiest pollutions to clean up. The following are a few easy steps that you can take to help reduce the effects of light pollution on our planet. [...]
Thank you so much for your great website. Light Pollution is such a huge battle in my life. I live in a wooded area across the street from an ever develop-encroached state park. And because of a bitter property line dispute my backdoor neighbors all waged against my family property that legally went our way, one backyard neighbor conducts a light trespass campaign against me every night for 4 years. After I diplomatically asked him to revert his newly updated fixtures back to motion sensor type as he had for 20 years before I lived here (the house was my grandmother’s so I know this), he turned them towards me, he turned them on at dusk and off at 10PM and then on every morning at 4:30 or 5:30. My body clock got so screwed up that for a long time even after new drapes, I awoke at this time anyway, robbing me of one full 4-hour sleep cycle. Being reasonably young, I wondered how long a person could go without good sleep before health problems set in, from just simply being awake for too long every day for days, months, years????? The stress built palpably in job performance,and just a few months ago, I saw my doctor for stress related heart palpatatoins.
When I moved here, I used to sleep in a dark bedroom with the drapes open waking only to birds chirping and the sunrise. Now I have heavy drapes, I oversleep and am prone to depression, because I sleep too late sometimes to make up for the lost sleep cycle, and also because I feel less connected to the woods and its benefits, but with all the same hardwork of the woods. Now he leaves them on all night and when I threaten to put up a fence, he went to my jurisdiction and through a buddy’s dirty favor was almost successful at getting a dirty favor done. I returned home to find ComEd trying to put a street light at our woods. If I hadn’t caught them, it would have been up. And at a city hall closed meeting I was able to adress city council and out this illegality of the situation. I was successful at stopping it by exposing its bogusness.
My jurisdiction has no lighting ordinances and I am planning to embark on a huge journey to bring about light ordinances in my area. I live across the street from a huge state park. And I am a local member of Sierra Club that has just started working to get my town classified as a Cool City.
I had owls overhead 4 years ago and now they have moved. Not even as many flying squirrels or raccoons. Deer trails in the snow indicate they walk in my yard to avoid the light, almost in a confirmable avoidance route of these lights. It saddens me that with all yours and my efforts about Light Pollution thinking that Education about it is mainly what’s needed to stop alot of it, that there are some people that just don’t care. I could not believe that he would do this on purpose, but now know that he does. He also physically trespasses across our corner. So on my own property, I feel rather alone in the fight.
Unfortunately not everyone even cares about their damaging ways, if their intent is to punish with light trespass, we truly are screwed. I wish there was a way to make intentional Light Trespass illegal, as I have tried to solve it simply and peaceably, but I feel bullyed by a vindictive old man. The most damaging element of intentional light warring is not only the damage it can have on wildlife but humans, and it’s not just the threat to physical health from sleep deprivation, but an overwhelming amount of mental stress from the Negative Energy.
Hopefully sometime in my lifetime, public awareness will make a difference. And this guy can’t live forever,
Sincerely,
Sleep Deprived
I forgot a couple of comments.
First of all this nasty neighbor’s house and lights are close only 20-30 feet from my property line. So MOST of his light washes across my property, backyard and woods. And my house is all windows.
Additionally, anytime he has ever seen me measuring for a fence to block the light, followed by plans for large evergreens, because I don’t know what else to do, my health is at stake, he puts 2 more even brighter lights on his house at a point where a fence won’t block them, and his mayor buddy told me he may even put a big light up on a pole on his property since this is legal.
People in my area look at you like your crazy when you even mention Light Pollution. They are so overconcerned about Security Lighting. I remind them that Motion Lighting achieves way more security issues than dusk to dawn lighting, and then I read this same exact point in your website.
Please open a link to this website about Intentional Light Trespass and steps to take on how to go about grassroots Legislation Changes in your local jurisdictions.
Are there any free action kits or publications I could get my hands on to present to my next Sierra Club meeting?
Thanks for your information.
[...] Later in life, I visited Northern Arizona University when I went college touring, which is in the small city of Flagstaff. The city had a remarkable title, as stated by the NAU website – it is known as the World’s First International Dark-Sky City. It is also home to the Lowell Observatory and discovery of Pluto, the sort of planet. Sky Tonight reports just how big of a problem most outdoor lighting is; not only does uncovered outdoor lighting destroy our sight for stars, but also impacts wildlife. Starry Night Lights states that according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, light pollution is a major contribution for the threatened and endangered conditions of the state’s sea turtles. [...]
The skyglow is indicative of the absolute and senseless waste of our natural resources. And as for the monetary part of the equation, how about $5 to $10 billion dollars a year just to light up the sky?
I always tell people that when they are driving towards a city at night and see the skyglow, imagine you’re seeing dollar signs in the sky – because that’s exactly what you’re seeing, the absolute waste of billions of dollars. On some folks it makes a big impression, and on some, they, unfortunately, could care less.
lynette:
There is a simple solution to the problem of your neighbor blasting you with light. It is called a pellet gun (or a .22 rifle) with a scope. Shoot them out every night, and he will run out of money replacing the bulbs.
If that fails – try pouring some Jello powder into his gas tank.
Great website guys, just a quick qestions is there any other words for “sky glow” ive been racking my brains trying to think of the word. (i think it was what my grandpa used to call it) if you could help me out that would be great.
Cheers
Hey Tom
I’ve heard the this referred to as a light dome…