Outdoor Lighting is something about which most people have not given much thought. But most people know bad lighting when they see it, primarily because of glare. Many have experienced problems with bad light fixtures installed by neigbors and have encountered glare from unshielded lights when they are driving.
Bad Lighting causes:
GLARE: Blinding light from exposed light sources that hampers your vision
LIGHT TRESPASS: Nuisance light that crosses property lines onto neighboring homes and into windows.
ENERGY WASTE: Fixtures that direct light into the sky serve no useful purpose and waste energy and money. Plus: Illumination at times when no people are present and there is no practical reason for lighting.
SKY GLOW: Wasted upward directed light causes sky glow that blocks our view of a natural night sky.
All of these problems can be solved by the proper use of widely available shielded light fixtures and intelligent control of when lights are on.
Check if your community has a lighting ordinance or lighting requirements in its subdivision/land development or zoning regulations. CLICK HERE for an online source where your municipality's ordinances may be listed, if not, a call or visit to the municipality's office should be made.
If there are existing lighting requirements, ask the local government to review and update these requirements if necessary. If not, ask the local government to adopt a lighting ordinance. Model lighting ordinances are available on this site and from the POLC.
See: Initiating a Lighting Ordinance in Your Community .....by POLC
Also: Beginners Guide to Lighting Regulation.....by IDA
The problem of light pollution can appear to be overwhelming and insurmountable. Like other forms of pollution, it took decades for the problem to develop to its present state. Much has been done to address the problem across the world since the formation of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). In Pennsylvania, local governments have begun to update and enact lighting ordinances to address the problem. But improvement will not come to your area unless you or someone in your area takes the initiative to act. See Initiating a Lighting Ordinance in Your Municipality.