Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.

By Carolyn Collins Petersen, TheSpacewriter
Contributor profile | More stories

Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Light at Night

Tuesday, December 2, 2014 15:37

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

What are Its Effects?

Light pollution is a world-wide problem, but is something that we can fix. Courtesy Wikimedia; Christopher Kyba and Ray Stinson, http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~kyba/images/night_cloud_comparison.html

Light pollution is an ever-present but eminently fixable problem around the globe. It happens when people don’t use shielded lighting, overuse their lighting, and shine lights UP to the sky (thereby washing out the view of the stars). The nature of lighting is changing, and many places are making efforts to mitigate the overuse of lights. But, other changes are happening as well.

You’ve probably noticed that public lighting in some places is being replaced by bright LEDs. Not only can these be substantially brighter than sodium vapor and other outdoor lighting, but they can affect your health and the environment just as much (if not more so) than other kinds of lights. That has led the International Dark-Sky Association to update its Fixture Seal of Approval (FSA) that has been widely adapted by the lighting industry as an essential way to certify outdoor lighting. This is important, not just for stargazers, but for the population at large. Why so?

The FSA has, since its inception, helped many users of outdoor lights do the environmentally right thing when it comes to lighting their buildings and properties at night. They are finding that their costs forlighting (including electrical power) are substantially reduced while maintaining a safe level of lighting that doesn’t hurt the environment, trespass on neighbors, or shine up, uselessly lighting the sky.

Exposure to blue light at night affects plants and animals and has a hand in stirring up some chronic conditions in humans. In addition, the glare of blue-light-rich LEDs at night is almost blinding (something you may have noticed as you drive at night and see oncoming cars equipped with such lights). Many effects are still being studied. However, it’s well known that staring at a blue light-rich screen at night (such as reading from your iPad before bed) can affect your melatonin levels and the amount of sleep you get. There are likely other health effects to consider, as well.

The new FSA standards address these concerns by suggesting limits to the amount of blue-rich light used at night. FSA approval now requires that products offer a listed correlated color temperature (CCT) configuration of 3,000K or lower. Previously approved products will have one year to comply with the new standard. As new research emerges, IDA will continue to reassess FSA standards and expects to further strengthen the program guidelines in the future.

Just to give you an idea of how useful the FSA has been, the market for FSA-approved public and industrial lighting has grown exponentially. Manufacturers at industry trade shows display the FSA logo on many of their products. The effects reach all the way to the construction and planning industries, with builders, architects, and city planners finding and using a variety of dark sky-friendly products, including LEDs, induction lighting, and high-pressure sodium fixtures. I’ve noticed, that many places such as Home Depot and other retailers proudly show FSA-approved lighting to their home improvement customers.

IDA has also been a big player in product development for lighting in ecologically sensitive areas. New lighting technologies that shut down glare and utilize energy-efficient technology are now showing up in the general marketplace so that anyone who wants to light properly and save money and fossil fuels can do so. IDA is actively involved in developing lighting recommendations for sensitive coastal areas where significant populations of endangered sea turtles nest and hatch. In 2015 IDA will launch a new Sea Turtle Friendly product certification to complement the new FSA requirements.

I’m very pleased to be part of IDA’s outreach effort as a member of its Education Committee. Two years ago, I worked with the group to create a useful (and downloadable) video about light pollution that you can use in classroom lectures, planetarium theaters, and anywhere you want to share the news about light pollution with others. You can find out more about IDA’s many light pollution mitigation efforts on their Web site, and get information about the video here (HD version) and here (for the fulldome version). Light pollution is something we can all work to fix, and now with the latest guidelines about blue-rich LED lighting and approved fixtures, we can make sure that new lighting technologies serve our purposes without harming ourselves or the environment.

Source: http://thespacewriter.com/wp/2014/12/02/light-at-night/

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

LION'S MANE PRODUCT

Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules

Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.

Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.

Comments

Visits:	1,707,790,625
Stories:	8,448,611