If you take a moment to look around you will begin to notice a world awash with an artificial glare. Animals and people constantly bathed in the harsh synthetic lights beaming from our homes, workplaces, laptops, phones and street lamps. A silent pollutant creating unnoticeable threats to our wildlife, the natural ecosystem and even ourselves.
Light pollution is a very real and serious form of pollution, albeit, rarely featured in public discourse or news as it is difficult to quantify and address. But its effects have tangible environmental costs to everyone and everything.
Insects and animals migration patterns, wake-sleep habits, and habitat formation can be heavily disrupted. People’s circadian rhythm can be confused which leads to lower melatonin production and results in sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety, and other health problems.
Unfortunately, this appears to be a standard affair for almost all cities and towns where technology has pushed back the frontiers of darkness and regrettably, these effects can sometimes spill over into neighbouring villages. The further disrupts the natural ecosystem and spoils the traditionally stunning dark skies of rural England.
How do we then protect our skyline and unlock the celestial objects that dot our night sky?
To move Bedford Borough towards a greener and more sustainable future we need more creative and bold ideas we can’t for example, just blindly waste millions of the public’s money on harsh LEDs. However, we understand there is always a balance to be struck between the environmental benefits of dark skies and public safety.
Instead we should use technology wisely to help achieve both aims, for example by thinking carefully about positioning of any lights, the use of light colour to minimise impacts, and the introduction of smarter lighting systems where practicable.
One last benefit in reducing light pollution levels is revelling more of Bedford Borough’s night sky, unlocking the breathtaking and beautiful stars that paint our universe.
