How to Reduce Light Pollution from Your Yard

Problem definition
When light pollution interferes with recreational star-gazing, this is an example of mild impact. If light pollution creates a glare that causes motorists to crash into oncoming traffic, this is an instance of moderate effect. In cases where humans are interrupted from obtaining regular sleep nightly and infant sea turtles walk inland because of sky glow, this is an illustration of severe impact. What if you are nowhere near a star observatory or busy intersection? Does your lighting still affect neighbors?

What is light pollution?
Light pollution occurs when unintended light spills over a private residence's boundary, parking lot or athletic field. For instance, when a parking lot post light can be seen five miles away by a stargazer, this is light pollution. If a private residence, on a hill, uses landscape lighting that is so bright that beach wildlife is drawn to their property rather than the sea, this is light pollution.

One type of sea life dies regularly from light pollution's effects. Sea turtles rely on moonlight to find the sea after being hatched so to go anywhere else besides the sea would mean death. When outdoor lighting from a private basketball court is overly bright and causes motorists to collide into a pedestrian, this is also an effect of light pollution.

When neighbors are exposed night after night to harsh glare from their neighbor's outdoor wall lights, the individuals' melatonin production levels become irregular and their bodies are weakened by the inability to fight free radicals. In other words, light pollution interferes with an adequate night''s rest for the body to repair. Are you getting enough rest? Is your next door neighbor?

Proposed Solution
Local government can initiate public lighting ordinances that limit the hours of the day residents may leave on their outdoor lights. For example, residents may have a curfew of turning off outdoor wall lights at 2 am. County governing bodies can replace all existing public lights with fully shielded, full-cutoff outdoor lights. Such dark sky compliant light fixtures will be in use at public ball parks, community parking lots, and tennis courts.

Residents can be educated by a public service announcement persuading them to switch to outdoor lighting on their property that directs light downward, as opposed to horizontally or skyward. Awareness fairs can be coordinated by the local government and local lighting retailers of dark sky compliant post lights, wall lights and hanging pendants. What would make an awareness fair attractive and inexpensive? Do you have ideas?

Obstacles to this recommendation
The county government may not have the funding or staff to organize light pollution awareness events for local residents. The county could also be locked into a five-year-agreement with a certain lighting retailer for a type of conventional light fixture. Local retailers may not see the need to promote one segment of their product line. The local government may not have the money to replace more than 50% of the conventional lights in parking structures, athletic fields and public tennis courts. Residents may protest a curfew and resist the call to action to purchase night sky lights. Can you think of other objections? What are some counter-arguments?

Backup plan
Counties can recruit a percentage of small business lighting retailers that would like to sponsor the dark sky compliant light fixture awareness event. Local governments can choose select public parking lots and parks to add anti-light pollution shields or light covers. Concerned citizens from local green nonprofits can be recruited as leaders for neighborhood block parties and educational fairs to persuade residents to accept the curfew and replace fixtures. What's in it for the local government, retailers and residents? Why would you be concerned about light pollution? Does it affect you personally?

If you have some answers to the questions above, think about baby steps you can do to make the light from your yard softer for neighbors and wildlife. Then maybe you can suggest some ideas to your local government, businesses or neighbors.