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The Problems of Artificial Light at Night, is a Solution at Hand?
Other - Unpublished   Open access

The Problems of Artificial Light at Night, is a Solution at Hand?

Ken Wishaw
2018
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Abstract

Astronomical and Space Sciences
Since the introduction of street lights the world has embraced outdoor lighting and all the advantages that it confers. However this has come at a cost to our community and ecosystem, with most of the world's population now living under light polluted skies. Not only are astronomers increasingly hampered by the encroachment of light pollution into their domain, but the effects of night lighting extends past light pollution, to include negative health effects on the community at large, as well as negative impact on other species. Additionally outdoor lighting is a massive consumer of energy, and contributes significantly to the greenhouse gas burden of the planet. A solution for many of these problems is at hand. Over the last five years Light Emitting Diodes (LED's) have emerged as the cheap efficient outdoor lighting source of the future. The aim of this paper is to look at how outdoor lighting works, the negative impacts of outdoor lighting, and in particular, street lighting, and how a well designed LED street lighting plan could simultaneously address all the issues. It also reveals how a poorly designed LED outdoor lighting system could make the problems worse. With the advent of LED street lighting technology, there is now a once in a lifetime opportunity to correct all the problems we have created to date, and still enjoy all the benefits that outdoor lighting confers.

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