This post’s subject is light pollution. Will be explained why it is a problem, the environmental impact and some measures to reduce this kind of pollution.
The light pollution problem
Light pollution is caused by excess of artificial light, due to poor installation planning of lamps and poles. The caused problems are:
- Waste of electrical energy;
- Harms astronomical observations, is much harder watch the stars in the city`s sky. Compare the urban sky with the rural;
- Affect living beings.
More illumination does not bring security, because it can reduce visibility and color contrast. If illumination would bring security, then you could expel criminals with a flashlight.
How it affects living beings?
Many animals which are guided by light become confused with excess of artificial light and your migratory, reproductive and food activities are harmed. An example are the sea turtles when they born in the beach, instead go to the sea, move to wrong direction due to light pollution.
A study (click here) shows the environmental impact caused by LED illumination, this type of illumination affects the circadian rhythm more than other types of lamp. The circadian rhythm regulates the sleep, appetite and hormone production. The natural growth of plants also are harmed due to photosynthesis caused by excess of artificial light.
Some measures
It is not possible to turn off the city`s light, but can implement a simple solution. Direct the public light to down, there is no need a light pole spread to all directions. Just implement lamps which direct the light exclusively to down.
The poles of figure below are much more efficient than the ones in the figures above.
Other measure is switch “cold” color (below in the figure) lamps by “hot” color (above in the figure) lamps, because the “hot” colors in the night affect less the circadian rhythm due the fact the day light color is “cold”. Maybe LEDs which emits “hot” color to public illumination can be a possible solution.
