On any clear night, there can be a host of wonderful things to enjoy up in the sky – from constellations and planets to shooting stars and meteor showers. You don’t have to be an amateur astronomer to appreciate the show each night in the heavens.
Unfortunately, for most people living in populated areas, this show is much less spectacular than it should be as “light pollution” from street lights, buildings, and outdoor lights block out much of the night sky. You may not even realize it when sitting on your patio on a warm summer’s night, but you are likely seeing only a small portion of the stars.
That’s led to a number of international “Dark Sky” efforts to cut down on light pollution. Though many efforts started as simple moves to return the night sky to a natural state and preserve our ability to appreciate it, there is more and more science behind the efforts. Several studies have found that too much artificial lighting at night can disrupt sleep patterns and our natural Circadian rhythms (your body clock), as well as cause more serious health issues.
This issue is getting a lot of attention lately as the U.S. has been switching its street lights to LED lighting (light emitting diodes) that are rich in blue light. While LEDs have a great ecological benefit due to their low use of electricity, certain types that project a bright blue-rich white light at night can affect your health. This harsh “white” light has also been found to affect the rhythms of wildlife and upsets an area’s natural cycles.
That’s why groups like the International Dark Sky Association recommend using “warmer” or filtered LEDS that are properly shielded for outdoor lighting.
At this point, you may be wondering what this has to do with the few outdoor lights you may have at your home. Even though your home lighting doesn’t produce anywhere near the light put out by a bank of street lights, you can still design a home lighting scheme that reduces light pollution and glare and helps keep natural cycles in balance.
Eric Krise Electrical contractors can help you devise the perfect lighting scheme for your home– both indoors and out – that can cut down on light pollution, glare, and help protect your natural rhythms.
In the meantime, here’s some helpful advice from BobVilla.com on how to reduce outdoor light pollution.
Turn Off Your Porch Light
Even though you may feel more secure with your porch light on, by turning it off at night you can save energy and stop light pollution.
Install Timers
If you have a timer, turning off your fixtures is much easier. It is not only extremely convenient, but again will help your environment safe from light pollution.
Motion Sensors
If you install motion sensors onto your property, you will no longer have to worry about your turning your light switches on and off. The sensor will go on when somebody walks up to your home and turn off when they exit.
Use Low-Glare Fixtures
The International Dark Sky Association recommends using low-glare fixtures. They are not only more efficient but are considered low-pollution lighting.
Remember to Replace Bulbs
When dark sky designs are parried with LED and CFL lighting, they can decrease the amounts of lumens emitted into the night sky.