How Light Pollution Hurts Our Security
By MAS Member, Michael Kauper
The most important thing to remember when stopping light pollution is that
everyone benefits when light pollution is reduced: drivers, pedestrians,
residents, businesses, teachers, police, astronomers, everyone.
Proper lighting, which preserve the night sky for teachers, astronomers,
poets, and children; also improves public safety, saves money and energy,
protects nature, reduces light trespass, and improves night vision.
"Light Pollution" is light which goes where it is not needed or
wanted and light which is unnecessarily bright.
"Proper Lighting" is provided by fixtures which direct light only
where needed, which do not shine to the side or up into the sky, and do not
glare into our eyes. The light bulb is not visible and the illuminated object is
visible.
Improving Public Safety: Poor lights, especially street lights, which
glare into our eyes make it harder to see between houses, harder to see
trespassers, harder to see pedestrians, and harder to see oncoming traffic. Good
lights make all these things easier, and makes all of us safer.
Saving money and energy: because proper lighting fixtures direct light
only where needed; are not brighter than needed; and use efficient reflectors;
such fixtures require lower wattage bulbs to provide excellent illumination.
Lower wattage equals less energy, less pollution, less cost.
Protecting nature: light shining into natural areas disturbs the
cycles of the animals. Great flocks of dead birds are found at the base of
overly illuminated communication towers.
Reduced Light Trespass: Lights which shine to the side, crossing
property lines and entering bedroom windows, are wasteful and annoying.
Improved Night Vision: Light which shines into our eyes is blinding,
defeating night vision. A driveway properly illuminated by 50 watts of downward
directed light is easier to see than the same driveway illuminated by 150 watts
of light glaring into the eyes.
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