Since the development of electricity and the modern city, light pollution has robbed us of the night sky. Even in smaller towns, a single Wawa or Royal Farms can completely negate the view of a natural sky for miles. The presence of light pollution is an intersectional, intergenerational complaint from the people of the world. Every day needs its true night! So, let’s get down to business: what are we doing in 2024 to bring back the dark and the wonders that come with it?

The Streetlight Situation

Streetlights are a colossal cause of light pollution in any place that uses them. Whether it’s a large city or small town, main roads (at the very least) are adorned with streetlights that consistently shine all night.

The reason that streetlights cause so much light pollution stems from poor design. The light from the bulbs is generally undirected, allowing it to shine everywhere (including places where it is not needed).

To solve this design problem, many light-conscious towns are designing streetlamps that point light downward, covering the upper portions of the bulb. This allows for pedestrian and automobile safety while preserving our view of space. The image below is one example of this friendly design:

They function in the same way your household lampshade would- by providing a path for the light to follow. We have no reason to light up the sky, only the roads and sidewalks.

Unused Light

While the innovations in newly designed streetlamps are promising, this long-running problem stems from so much more than just streetlights. Streetlights, at least, have benefits and functionality. Many other sources of light pollution, on the other hand, have minimal benefits and are inherently wasteful.

The concept of unused light is simple: it’s any kind of light that not a single person is benefiting from, whether only at certain times or altogether. Monumental examples of this are large, vacant parking lots such as those in car dealerships, shopping malls, industrial areas, and more. Aside from skeleton crew security (if that), these lots are never used late at night – yet, the unnecessary brightness remains.

This problem can be fixed in many ways, the most obvious being to turn the lights off. However, many corporations, businesses, and government agencies have a problem with this. Most of them cite safety, legality, and anti-theft/criminal activity. However, there is a compromise.

Motion lighting is a reasonable solution to anti-theft concerns while still halting light pollution and saving energy! In especially empty areas, the lights will stay off all night unless someone needs them. The sudden change in lighting when prompted by motion is also enough to scare away criminals who fear recognition and security cameras.

What Can You Do? – Home Solutions

After reading this quick article, you may be thinking about how you can contribute to darker nights at home. We’ve provided an introductory list of small but impactful changes that you can make tonight!

• Turn off all lights when going to sleep. You’d be surprised how often the average person forgets this simple principle!
• Keep blinds/drapes closed at night. This halts any unused light from escaping your home!
• When outdoors, aim flashlights or digital devices towards the ground.
• Allow your eyes to adjust! Before turning on more lights at home, consider giving your body a chance to adapt to your dimmer surroundings. You’d be surprised at how quickly you can catch on.

Final Thoughts

With all of the technology evolving around us, from digital advertising, to led headlights, to neon signs, the future feels scary. In 2024, one-third of humanity can no longer see the Milky Way. While we may have no control over the decisions of the powerful and money-driven, we can still make small changes that, together, will matter.

References

DarkSky International. (2024, September 11). DarkSky International. https://darksky.org/

‌Nathanson, J. (2020). Light pollution | Britannica. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/light-pollution

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