An Introduction to Light Pollution
Light pollution is any adverse effect due to artificial light. It’s most evident as a ubiquitous glow in the nighttime sky. Did you know that two-thirds of New Englanders can no longer see the Milky Way from their homes? Or that excessive or wasted nighttime lighting costs billons of dollars a year in this country? Or that outdoor lighting has been demonstrated to harm numerous ecological niches?
With energy costs skyrocketing, light pollution is increasingly a target of conservation efforts. In addition, we are learning more each day about the damage that artificial light does to wildlife and to public health.
On January 14th at 7 p.m., Kelly Beatty, who chairs the New England Light Advisory Group, will talk about poor-quality outdoor lighting and how it costs us environmentally and economically. He will also discuss ongoing efforts to reduce light pollution at the local, regional, and national level.
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