Even though nighttime lighting is essential for some of our after-dark activities, light pollution is beginning to affect the eating habits of nocturnal animals as well as the migratory patterns of birds.

We humans like our nights, and we sure love to light them up, don’t we?

But is there a tipping point for too much night lighting? Indeed there might be, and we could be approaching it. It’s called light pollution, and it’s beginning to show its ill effects all over the world—or at least where lights dominate, or even dot, the nightscape.

And this isn’t just a purist thing, either—it’s a nature thing.

A recent article at DiscoveryNews.com reports that light pollution is a growing problem for wildlife:

• Migratory birds are getting confused and disoriented and flying into the sides of skyscrapers
• Nocturnal creatures are hastening the time they’re out looking for dinner (while becoming more vulnerable to being dinner when they’re out foraging for food)
• Newborn sea turtles are crawling inland rather than heading out to sea

Travis Longcore, director of the California-based Urban Wildlands Group, said, “We’ve turned major swathes of the globe into permanent full moon, or more.”

And this “permanent full moon” effect is disorienting animals that depend on the darkness of night for their survival.

Dark-Sky outdoor lighting fixtures can help minimize the effect of light pollution.

Short of totally pulling the plug on lights, there are a few ways we can cut down on the amount of nightly light pollution we help create. Some communities and cities have passed Dark Sky ordinances to preserve and protect the nighttime environment through quality outdoor lighting.

Chicago, for example, became the first city in the United States to dim their tall buildings at night during spring and fall bird migrations. The Windy City does this for nearly five months a year.

And several lighting manufacturers offer Dark-Sky rated lights that cut down and eliminate outward and upward glow. Lack of glare and improved contrast means better visibility, especially for aging eyes, and many Dark-Sky compliant fixtures are also ENERGY Star-rated.

In addition, eliminating wasted light saves money, energy and resources, which in turn reduces air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions caused by energy production.

Just a few simple changes can not only preserve the beautiful night sky above us, but also help many animal species thrive the way they were meant to thrive.

For more information and tips on how you can help eliminate light pollution, visit the International Dark-Sky Association.

Until next time, Happy Home Improving!

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