As much as possible you want your environment to shine with flashy lights especially at night. You do this to fend off whatever is lurking in the dark. Now this sounds harmless but you have to be aware that if you continue overdoing the lights, you are contributing to light pollution. Perhaps you are not familiar about it or you just choose to ignore but regardless, this is the time that you have to know everything about it.

Light pollution is the extensive use of artificial light. It is undeniable that Singapore has this extensive use of artificial light and so does New York or Paris. Actually, light pollution is the negative effect of urbanization. When you hear pollution, regardless of the kind, it compromises health of the people as well as upsetting the ecosystems and destroying the aesthetic environment. No matter how you see it, it can have a lasting effect.

Types of light pollution

You have to know that light pollution is broad. It can refer to different problems that are stimulated by excessive use of artificial light. Types include light trespass, over-illumination, glare, light clutter and skyglow. Light trespass refers to the unwanted light that entered another’s property. Over-illumination on the other hand is the extreme use of light. Glare can be categorized differently but in general it refers to a shine with harsh and uncomfortable brilliant light. Light clutter means the extensive light grouping that can distract and confuse people. Lastly, skyglow is the diffused glow of light.

Light pollution’s impact on energy

Light uses energy without a doubt but excessive lighting also means excessive and unnecessary use of energy. How can people deal with this? Energy conservation is the key to address this issue. Advocates are raising awareness so people can change their habits so light is used efficiently. It is therefore crucial for every government to provide its citizens of information about light pollution, the potential problems that will arise from it and how to reduce its effect on energy use.

Consequences

You have learned that in this world, too much of something is bad and it entails consequences. The first consequence that you have to face is energy waste. You have to know that lighting is accountable for almost ¼ of all electricity consumption in the world. It was mentioned earlier that it can also compromise the health on both human and animal. In the world of astronomy, light pollution destroys the night sky. With light pollution, the skies have become blurry and stars less sparkly.

 
It is not every day that you are educated about pollution but it is something that you have to keep in mind for the remainder of your life – if you want to live longer. Pollution, regardless of the kind, can have a negative effect on your health and the ecosystem. There are many kinds of pollution but not all see the gravity of light pollution.

Light pollution is everywhere even here in Singapore. In a world filled with darkness at night, one can understand the person’s desire to give or shine light. But you have to be aware of how far you can give or show light. Light pollution means the excessive and unnecessary use of artificial lights. All can be blamed of this phenomenon. It is actually one of the negative effects of modernization.

Light pollution is a serious problem that should be addressed. Do not ignore it because you feel it is harmless. Lights can never harm anyone after all. But that is where you are wrong. You have to act now before it is too late for your children and the future. Start by raising awareness. To help to raise awareness, it is imperative that you know the types of light pollution.

Here are the types of light pollution:

• Light trespass: When you hear trespass, it means invading another’s property. Light trespass happens when unwanted strong light shines on another’s property. This is serious because if the strong light goes through the window, it can lead to problems like sleep deprivation. The good thing is that governments determined a standard outdoor lighting to protect the rights of everyone.

• Over-illumination: Over-illumination is a common problem. When you use lights too much, you also use barrels of oil every day and that is energy wasted. The common perpetrators are commercial buildings where they consume so much energy every day. The good news is that this problem can be easily corrected using inexpensive technology. The company just needs to consider it.

• Glare: Glare is another type of light pollution that gives distress because of the brilliant light. It has three subcategories – blinding glare, disability glare and discomfort glare. The glare is especially a public health hazard and it worsens as you grow old.

• Skyglow: Skyglow refers to diffused glow that is usually seen in populated areas. This is the cause of decreased visibility of stars at night. Astronomers particularly dislike this kind of light pollution because it interferes with their studies. It can be reduced with the help of the right lighting fixture.