Light pollution (excessive light during night time) is a form of pollution that distresses many people, especially in modern cities. What are the causes of light pollution, and what solutions can you suggest for governments and businesses to take?
What are the causes of light pollution, and what solutions can you suggest for governments and businesses to take?
Causes
Flooding the area with more than required illumination
Faulty light designs that lets the light escapes skywards instead of focusing on the area required
Excessive use of high beams by motorists
Billboards of advertisements shining bright
Skywards beams being used in parties and events
SOLUTIONS
Reducing unnecessary use of lighting
Efficient designs of lighting systems
Restrictions about up to what time the advertisement billboards can be used
Prohibiting the use of skywards beams
Dissuading motorists from using high beams
The intent to transform darkness into broad daylight is creating a new type of menace – enhanced luminescence, a source of several problems. It is highly desirable to address this issue urgently. I will discuss the causes and possible solutions in this essay.
The primary cause of this, not so new, phenomenon is the light escaping from the conspicuous street lighting systems ubiquitously installed on main roads, streets, alleys, and several other locations frequented by the public. These do not only illuminate the areas they are meant for but also the adjoining ones. On top of that, due to their defective design or focusing, a lot of light tends to escape towards the skies too.
In addition to the above, besides street lights, the big self-illuminated bright billboards used by the authorities and businesses to highlight their establishments, and products are also to blame for this pollution. These brightly shine throughout the night, lighting up the skylines of cities; thus blurring the skies. Additionally, with security being a major concern today, every nook and corner of complexes – that may include parking, office premises, etc. – are given a more than required illumination, which leaves the areas flooded with light.
However, this, despite being a difficult to resolve issue, remedies are available. It is necessary to redesign the street light equipment, which focuses only on the intended areas instead of dispersing in unwanted directions, especially towards the heavens. Furthermore, businesses also must fulfill their social obligations by limiting the use of huge illuminated advertising boards and hoardings.
To conclude, illuminating public areas is the primary factor that is contributing to the light pollution, nonetheless, better designs, and imposing voluntary restrictions on the hours of use of advertising and decoration could surely help.
