From the April - June 2022 Jersey Sierran
Light Pollution and Night Skies Committee Report
By Jonathan Wall, docjdwall@gmail.com
We need to shed light on the issue of light pollution. One of the newest committees formed by the New Jersey Chapter is the Light Pollution and Nights Skies Committee. We plan to advocate for statutes and ordinances that regulate lighting so we all can start enjoying the night skies once again and mitigate the adverse effects on wildlife and human health.
Part of the Sierra Club Grassroots Network, our Committee shares the goal championed by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA): to restore the natural nighttime environment.1 The IDA estimates that 35% of artificial light in the United States is unnecessary and 600 million trees must be planted annually to offset the carbon emissions from this waste. While it may seem like a futile effort in a state as densely populated as New Jersey, there is still a lot we can do. If you are disturbed by the plummeting populations of fireflies, butterflies, songbirds, hummingbirds, bats, owls, and the prey they need to survive, such as the mice and insects of the world, then please consider advocating in your community for common-sense curbs on nighttime illumination.
Using a friendly tone, start by talking to your neighbors and community leaders about the need to curb outdoor lighting. Explain the effects of poor lighting on wildlife and human health. Encourage the use of soft-yellowish lighting with color temperatures of 3,000 degrees Kelvin and below to cut back on harmful blue light. Educate your community about lighting and safety.2 Instead of leaving lights on all night long, install timers, motion detectors, and dimmers. Municipalities and businesses can maintain security and save on electric bills as well, by investing in these energy-saving ideas.
Although studies show that crime decreases in “properly” lit areas, the choice we are faced with is not bright lights or no lights. LED technology can provide our communities with intelligent dynamic road lighting.3 This fancy term simply means the light changes automatically. Your neighborhood street lights, for example, may softly brighten or dim as you walk or drive toward or away from them. The light will not abruptly turn on or off. The cost savings will be significant for our local governments. Street lights will remain dim when not needed. Even your neighbors who prefer bright exterior lighting could save money by installing dynamic systems. When you walk up their driveway, the lights would gently brighten and then dim a few minutes after you have entered their home.
Our Committee is not advocating a return to the Dark Ages, but moving forward to an age of progressive lighting. Brighten the streets when needed and dim them when you are done. That’s the bright idea for our future.
If you want more information or are interested in joining us, please check out our webpage at: www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/light-pollution or email docjdwall@gmail.com.
References
1. Eaves, M. “Who owns the night sky?” International Dark-Sky Assoc. December 15, 2021; Issue 106, 5-7.
2. “Can enhanced LED street lighting contribute to reduce violent crime?” Newark Public Safety Collaborative. November 4, 2020.
3. Haans A, de Kort Y. “Light distribution in dynamic street lighting: Two experimental studies on its effects on perceived safety, prospect, concealment, and escape.” J Environ Psychol. December 1, 2012; 32, 342-352. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.05.006