Light pollution is pollution caused by light emissions from artificial sources with high intensities. Although it is one of the most unnoticed environmental problems, it can have negative consequences on health.
CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF LIGHT POLLUTION
Light pollution is that glow or glare in the night sky caused by artificial light that we have all seen at some time or another.
The main cause of this type of pollution is the malfunctioning of artificial lighting. Why? Because most streetlights emit light upwards, when the light is actually needed on the ground, which means a greater administration of power, resulting in a waste of energy.
It should be borne in mind that poor lighting is not the only cause of light pollution. Other influencing factors are:
- The projectors or laser cannons that cause over-lighting in cities.
- Excessive lighting for advertising purposes.
- The absence of an efficient switch-off and switch-on schedule.
The effects of light pollution do not only spread through cities, but their consequences are spread throughout the atmosphere. These consequences affect all human beings living on the planet:
- It has negative effects on the Earth’s biodiversity.
- In humans, it can lead to a disruption of the biological clock, as sleep is affected by the lack of darkness.
- The great waste of energy, which leads to more waste and contributes to the acceleration of climate change.
Now… How can we reduce light pollution in our environment?
- By using energy-efficient, low-pollutant spectrum lamps.
- By dimming or progressively reducing the amount of light from street lighting.
- By using the minimum necessary lighting intensity.
Our aim is to make the sky darker again and to achieve good lighting, which can be defined as lighting that is produced efficiently.