Light Pollution Wastes Energy, Disturbs Wildlife

Civilization has long since evolved past going to bed at nightfall and rising at dawn, or sitting around in the dark.  We need lighting for safety in homes, parking lots, sidewalks, roadways and other areas.  But, the majority of lighting is a total waste of energy and a disturbance of wildlife, because improperly designed lighting often shines skywards and extends far beyond the area that needs to be lit.

Learn more about light pollution and how you can reduce it in your home or business lighting fixtures at The International Dark Sky Association.  You can also check out a stunning collection of light pollution photos by Jim Richardson at National Geographic.  The photos have a dreamy quality and are often quite beautiful, but they illustrate just how much we’re illuminating the sky for no good reason.

Link [International Dark Sky Association]
Photo credit: Jim Richardson/National Geographic

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