Darkness News
New York State Preps Another Lights Out Campaign
August 24, 2022 - Times Union
A partnership between the NYC Audubon Society, the State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the State Office of General Services will extinguish non-essential lighting in state-owned and -managed buildings during the fall migration season. The policy is mirroring a successful initiative from New York City last year, and is accompanied by an awareness campaign for private individuals and business to follow the state’s suit.
Read MoreFall Migration Means the Return of ‘Lights Out’ Campaigns
August 23, 2022 - CW39 News
The Audubon Society of Texas and the American National Insurance Company have once again begun to advocate for residents and businesses along local flyways to extinguish or dim un-needed lighting at night to prevent bird fatalities.
Read MoreMelatonin Linked to Migraine Treatment
August 22, 2022 - Nutrients
Two Warsaw universities have teamed up to determine that timed-release melatonin can help ease prevent chronic migraines before they occur. What is unclear this can be linked to better sleep hygiene overall and the condition.
Read MoreSome Fireflies Can Cope with Some Light at Night
August 19, 2022 - NBC News
Entomologists at Tufts have that while some species of firefly can handle some kinds of light, there no color that doesn’t affect firefly mating habits. The team calls for limits on outdoor light at night to help populations recover.
Read MoreSouth Florida Businesses Accused of Breaching Dark Sky Bylaws
August 18, 2022 - Local 10 News
Volunteer turtle nest watchers and enforcement officers have targeted businesses of Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood beaches for violations of a turtle nesting protection law. So far 40 fines have been issued and one ice cream parlor is under a lien from the city for repeat offences. Businesses in the area have protested the interior lighting portions of the law.
Read MoreLight at Night Increases Risk of Obesity, Diabetes, and Hypertension in the Elderly
August 17, 2022 - Sleep
A study of 552 residents of a senior community by the Feinberg School of Medicine found that those subjects that experienced light at night were 73% more likely to experience hypertension, 40% more likely to become obese, and 17% more likely to develop diabetes.
Read MoreMuskoka Lakes, ON May Restrict Indoor Light
August 16, 2022 - South Muskoka Doppler
Citizens and one town councilor have challenged a lighting bylaw set to go into effect in 2024 because it doesn’t restrict indoor lighting that faces the lakes. Critics of the town’s policy have also noted that the town currently has no plans to retrofit publicly-owned lamps that are in violation of the policy.
Read MoreDesign Student Builds Wind-Powered Lamp Post that Cuts Light Pollution
August 15, 2022 - Inhabitat
Tobias Trübenbacher’s Papilio lamp combines an angled-wind rotor, a battery and a shielded light source to shed light without any contact with the grid.
Read MoreMontana Opens Trail to the Stars
August 12, 2022 - Missoulian
A new promotional effort highlights 43 stargazing sites across the state. Three regional tourism boards have created new maps with ideal spots and stargazing tips.
Read MoreNearly All Turtle Hatchlings Experience Light Disorientation on Panama City, FL Beaches
August 11, 2022 - Panama City News Herald
Nest numbers were up more than a 25% compared the previous season, but PCB Turtle Watch, a local non-profit, noted that 600 hatchlings we found walking the wrong way do to beachfront lighting.
Read MoreLee County, FL Residents in Breach of Turtle-Safe Lighting Ordinance
August 10, 2022 - Fox 4 Southwest Florida
Local officials have handed out 68 formal warnings for violations of the Fort Myers Beach Sea Turtle Ordinance. Local environmentalists have found multiple hatchlings crawling toward and under houses after suffering from disorientation caused by indoor lights. Both advocates and city employees are working to spread awareness before cash fines are issued.
Read MoreIDA Publishes Light Pollution Report
August 9, 2022 - IDA
The International Dark Sky Association has released a report compiling light pollution, energy, and climate change data from multiple sources. Key takeaways are: Wasted uplight amounted to $50 billion in wasted energy US-based outdoor lighting amounts to 380 terawatt hours per year (35 million homes worth of energy) Roughly 1% of light at night is useful Wasted light is 1% of greenhouse gasses Timed or motion sensor based dimming on a every exterior fixture in the US would save $15 billion dollars a year.
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