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Light pollution: Is there a solution? | Light pollution: Is there a solution? |
(about 3 hours later) | |
By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine | By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine |
Intelligent lighting systems | |
Ban 'Rottweiler' lights | |
Everyone from local councils to lighting engineers and government committees have recommended less powerful lights, but they are still being bought - often for as little as £4.48 - and fitted every day. They are too bright, too sensitive and often badly angled, sending unwanted light into neighbouring windows and the night sky, say critics. | Everyone from local councils to lighting engineers and government committees have recommended less powerful lights, but they are still being bought - often for as little as £4.48 - and fitted every day. They are too bright, too sensitive and often badly angled, sending unwanted light into neighbouring windows and the night sky, say critics. |
Northumberland's Longstone Lighthouse, Britain's most powerful lighthouse, uses a 1,000-watt light source, yet people use 500-watt lamps to light a garden, says Bob Mizon, UK co-ordinator of the CfDS. | Northumberland's Longstone Lighthouse, Britain's most powerful lighthouse, uses a 1,000-watt light source, yet people use 500-watt lamps to light a garden, says Bob Mizon, UK co-ordinator of the CfDS. |
"Even if they are triggered by movement, it means next door's cat can set them off repeatedly. It's the equivalent of strapping on a microwave to the side of your house and putting it on for a few minutes about 50 times a day. They use so much energy and it's unnecessary. We're not saying get rid of the light, just use one that is appropriate." | "Even if they are triggered by movement, it means next door's cat can set them off repeatedly. It's the equivalent of strapping on a microwave to the side of your house and putting it on for a few minutes about 50 times a day. They use so much energy and it's unnecessary. We're not saying get rid of the light, just use one that is appropriate." |
Nigel Parry, from the Institution of Lighting Engineers, which publishes guidelines for good lighting, says the best security lights are not the brightest. "A 100-watt light can do the job well." | Nigel Parry, from the Institution of Lighting Engineers, which publishes guidelines for good lighting, says the best security lights are not the brightest. "A 100-watt light can do the job well." |
Critics argue that rather than boosting security, they actually dazzle so it is difficult to see, and create dark shadows which are better for hiding in. | Critics argue that rather than boosting security, they actually dazzle so it is difficult to see, and create dark shadows which are better for hiding in. |
The CPRE has called for them to be withdrawn from the shelves of DIY superstores and other retailers, saying there is no need for such anti-social, environmentally-unfriendly products on the mass market. Government committees have also recommended an outright ban in the past. | The CPRE has called for them to be withdrawn from the shelves of DIY superstores and other retailers, saying there is no need for such anti-social, environmentally-unfriendly products on the mass market. Government committees have also recommended an outright ban in the past. |
But Parry says there is anecdotal evidence that sales are actually on the rise, as councils start to turn off street lighting to conserve energy and money. | But Parry says there is anecdotal evidence that sales are actually on the rise, as councils start to turn off street lighting to conserve energy and money. |
Homebase says it works "very closely with suppliers and in-store colleagues to ensure that customers are informed about how to reduce light pollution and considerate lighting when they purchase outdoor lighting". | Homebase says it works "very closely with suppliers and in-store colleagues to ensure that customers are informed about how to reduce light pollution and considerate lighting when they purchase outdoor lighting". |
Change the law | Change the law |
As it stands the UK has no national law that is just dedicated to reducing light pollution. | As it stands the UK has no national law that is just dedicated to reducing light pollution. |
"It's illegal to dump rubbish in the street or the sea, so why isn't it illegal to dump rubbish into the sky?" asks Mizon. "It's just about the only part of our environment that isn't already protected." | "It's illegal to dump rubbish in the street or the sea, so why isn't it illegal to dump rubbish into the sky?" asks Mizon. "It's just about the only part of our environment that isn't already protected." |
Others countries have taken the unusual step of adopting such a law. The Czech Republic was the first in the world to do so in 2002. People can be fined if they do not comply. Slovenia has now followed. Dark-sky legislation is also on the books in several Italian regions and some US states. | Others countries have taken the unusual step of adopting such a law. The Czech Republic was the first in the world to do so in 2002. People can be fined if they do not comply. Slovenia has now followed. Dark-sky legislation is also on the books in several Italian regions and some US states. |
The UK has light pollution legislation but campaigners want the government to go further. | The UK has light pollution legislation but campaigners want the government to go further. |
"What we have in this country is a series of bits of legislation so we can deal with some aspects of light pollution," says Martin Morgan-Taylor, principal lecturer in Law at Leicester's De Montfort University. | "What we have in this country is a series of bits of legislation so we can deal with some aspects of light pollution," says Martin Morgan-Taylor, principal lecturer in Law at Leicester's De Montfort University. |
The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 did criminalise light pollution. It made it a statutory nuisance in England and Wales and subject to the same criminal law as noise and smells. | The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 did criminalise light pollution. It made it a statutory nuisance in England and Wales and subject to the same criminal law as noise and smells. |
In Scotland it comes under the Public Health etc (Scotland Act 2008) and in Northern Ireland the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. | In Scotland it comes under the Public Health etc (Scotland Act 2008) and in Northern Ireland the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. |
"The problem with the current situation is that it's dependent on the attitude of local authorities," says Emma Marrington. "Some take light pollution seriously and will follow up complaints, other will just tell you to buy thicker curtains." | "The problem with the current situation is that it's dependent on the attitude of local authorities," says Emma Marrington. "Some take light pollution seriously and will follow up complaints, other will just tell you to buy thicker curtains." |
The Defra spokesperson said: "We are undertaking work to reduce the negative impacts of artificial light in a number of areas. This includes providing guidance on limiting light pollution to be included in local authority planning documents. We are also commissioning a research report to look at the effects of artificial light on biodiversity". | The Defra spokesperson said: "We are undertaking work to reduce the negative impacts of artificial light in a number of areas. This includes providing guidance on limiting light pollution to be included in local authority planning documents. We are also commissioning a research report to look at the effects of artificial light on biodiversity". |
A big switch-off | A big switch-off |
"Lights Out" programmes have been successfully adopted around the world. Over 17 US cities participate, including New York and Chicago, and several in Canada. In the UK there is no such initiative. | "Lights Out" programmes have been successfully adopted around the world. Over 17 US cities participate, including New York and Chicago, and several in Canada. In the UK there is no such initiative. |
The programme involves businesses turning off or dimming all decorative lighting at night during bird migration season. Artificial light confuses them and millions die every year by flying into windows. Nearly all tall buildings in Chicago co-operate for almost five months of the year, say organisers. Both birds and large amounts of energy are saved. | The programme involves businesses turning off or dimming all decorative lighting at night during bird migration season. Artificial light confuses them and millions die every year by flying into windows. Nearly all tall buildings in Chicago co-operate for almost five months of the year, say organisers. Both birds and large amounts of energy are saved. |
A "Lights Out London" campaign was organised in 2007, but it was for only one hour on one day. Campaigners say it's a missed opportunity. | A "Lights Out London" campaign was organised in 2007, but it was for only one hour on one day. Campaigners say it's a missed opportunity. |
"So many lights are left on in offices at night," says Mizon. "It can't be the case that every one is being cleaned at exactly the same time, throughout the night. It's staggering when you think of the light pollution and wasted energy." | "So many lights are left on in offices at night," says Mizon. "It can't be the case that every one is being cleaned at exactly the same time, throughout the night. It's staggering when you think of the light pollution and wasted energy." |
Other countries also have annual "switch-off" events. Belgium has a "Night of Darkness" every year in certain areas, where street and public lighting are switched off for one night to promote the issue of light pollution. | Other countries also have annual "switch-off" events. Belgium has a "Night of Darkness" every year in certain areas, where street and public lighting are switched off for one night to promote the issue of light pollution. |
The World Wildlife Fund promotes its annual "Earth Hour" in the UK and lights are switched off, but says the event is about the wider issue of global warming rather than light pollution. | The World Wildlife Fund promotes its annual "Earth Hour" in the UK and lights are switched off, but says the event is about the wider issue of global warming rather than light pollution. |
Friends of the Earth do not specifically campaign on light pollution here, although it says it does come into its work. Neither does the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The only event that is both annual and national is the CPRE's star count, say campaigners. This year it runs for a week from 20 January. | Friends of the Earth do not specifically campaign on light pollution here, although it says it does come into its work. Neither does the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The only event that is both annual and national is the CPRE's star count, say campaigners. This year it runs for a week from 20 January. |