What is Light Pollution & how can it be prevented?

It’s night time. The twilight sky is bathed in a golden glow, but it’s not coming from the setting sun. It’s a luminous barrage of artificial lights. Car headlights, street lamps, and architectural lights from houses, offices, factories, shops and warehouses. They all merge together to pollute the night with excessive light, blotting vibrant stars and planets out of view. It’s a phenomenon known as skyglow and it affects 80% of the world’s population. And that’s just the sky…

What is the impact of artificial light on Nature?

So, what about the impact of light pollution on nocturnal creatures? It plays havoc with their circadian rhythms. Unable to tell night from day, they sleep when they should be foraging or parenting. Their natural habitat is disrupted and migratory routes blighted with light. Animals can easily get disorientated and suffer night blindness, leaving them trapped, confused and vulnerable.

If you want to see what the light pollution looks like in your location, then the World Atlas of Night Sky Brightness is worth a visit. Thousands of night time satellite images, collated from 2016, showcase the impact of artificial light across the globe.

So, now we know what it does, and what causes it, how do we work smarter to minimise or eliminate it. Well, we’ve put together a list…

We’ve shortlisted some of our exterior lighting favourites to help you to responsibly light your outdoor space. But, If you’re after some expert advice, the team at Collingwood would be more that happy to assist.