Light Pollution Needs to be Addressed in Residential Neighborhoods

This article was originally published on Fairfax County Times.

Light trespass in residential neighborhoods is becoming an exponential problem and is already a private property rights issue. Shining into homes, yards and parks, blinding drivers, and pedestrians. It is a simple and easy problem to solve by adopting lighting practices that provide better visibility.

Increases in population and development account for a percentage of increasing light pollution but it is exacerbated by the sheer number and styles of lights added to homes and buildings. Examples are porch, lamp post, and riser lights where the bulb or light source can be seen from another property rather than tucked up in the fixture, accent lights directed upward rather than downward, and clusters of lights or high output lights used instead of low light levels that allow the human eye to see better after dark. White and light-colored homes and structures further increase the effects of the light as it reflects off the surfaces. All these practices cause glare, reducing our ability to see and often light trespass.

An additional issue is the use of bright white-colored light. This is indicated by a light’s Kelvin rating. It may be expressed in terms of cool or warm lights. Warm lights, with a lower Kelvin rating, at low light levels have been shown to improve nighttime visibility. We all want to see better. These cool lights have excessive amounts of light in the blue wavelength. Blue light emissions are particularly damaging to human health, animals, and the environment by disturbing the natural circadian rhythms established long before the invention of electric lights. For those of us who enjoy sitting out under the stars, they severely reduce our ability to enjoy the view of our universe.

Steps to solve this problem of light pollution are: 1. All lights should have a clear purpose. 2. Lights should only be on when needed. Use motion detectors and timers to control them. 3. Use shielding and careful aiming to target the direction of the light beam so that it points downward and does not spill beyond where it is needed nor cause light trespass, 4. Lights should be no brighter than necessary. Use the lowest light level required.  Be mindful of surfaces as light-colored surfaces reflect and intensify the light. 5. Minimize blue light emissions, use warmer colored bulbs, whiter LEDs cause more glare, use lights rated no higher than 2700 Kelvin. 

Light trespass is a private property issue. Each resident should be free to illuminate their own property with lighting that stays on their property and does not go above the structures on their property to damage our common view of the night sky.

Our property rights should be protected so that no one has unwanted artificial lights intruding onto their property. Artificial lighting from off-site can destroy a person’s ability to enjoy their property. This unwanted light trespassing onto another’s property is a nuisance.

Particularly as the trend of over-illumination encroaches upon quiet and historically dark suburban neighborhoods, the answer is stopping light pollution, not installing more blackout curtains. 

Fairfax County has made light pollution one of its environmental goals for years, is becoming a leader among municipalities that recognize this problem, is addressing it and beginning to solve the issue.  

However, the current residential outdoor lighting ordinances in this county do not protect the majority of residents from light trespass. This must change. It is time to enact outdoor lighting ordinances that protect every neighbor, be they human, animal, insect, plant, or celestial object.

 E Kragie

Vienna