Evolving Face of Washington’s Environmental Solutions
July 2nd, 2009It’s no surprise that Washington’s current environmental course is a far cry from the previous one under President Bush. Friday marked a historic day for the United States as the House of Representative passed legislation which would take strong steps to reduce global warming.
The legislation would require the 2005 global warming levels to be reduced by 17% by 2020 and 83% by 2050. It would put the greatest pressure on manufactures, utilities and the like.
The legislation must also be passed by the Senate. Individuals are hopeful that the legislation will be passed in the fall.
Image found at: http://www.marines.mil/units/hqmc/cmclegalasst/PublishingImages/Stock%20Images/House%20II.jpg
The bill represents a new page for the United States which has in the past, shied away from making strong environmental commitments. However many members of the House remain divided regarding the bill, particularly the republicans. Many believe that the bill will be ineffective in improving the environment or the current economic crisis.
Obama described the legislation as a “bold and necessary step” which “holds the promise of creating new industries and millions of new jobs, decreasing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil”. Clearly there is a sharp distinction between the two parties’ feelings on the bill.
The bill is aimed to lessen dependency on forms of energy which increase pollution and bring about a positive atmosphere for clean energy. It also includes a ‘cap and trade’ element which would allow industries to sell pollution permits among each other. The intention of which would be to reduce pollution through the permits.
Many republicans have attacked the bill, accusing it of possibly worsening the economic situation by forcing companies to outsource in order to avoid environmental restrictions. On the other hand, environmentalists have assailed the legislation as not being harsh enough. In any case, all advancements will be paused until the bill reaches the Senate.
Congressional Light Pollution Briefings To Be Held in July
July 1st, 2009
Special Bulletin
Our friends from the International Dark-Sky Association plan on presenting the latest information regarding outdoor lighting to our own very legislators and policymakers. Topics will include but not limited to energy efficiency, environmental impact and sustainable outdoor lighting solutions. This event couldn’t of come at a better time, when numerous cities across the United States have been reconsidering their lighting options due to the bail-out programme & new green measures. Having expects from the IDA before our politic figureheads will certainly help direct decisions such as these into motion.
Here is our chance to eradicate light pollution. Please contact your members of Congress and urge them to attend the IDA’s informational briefing on light pollution.
Mail from a Senator or Representative’s constituent carries special weight, and we need your help to get the word to them directly. We’ve included a sample letter below, and it can easily be pasted into an email and sent to members of Congress.
To contact your Representative, visit:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
To contact your Senators, visit:
(See the upper right corner to link to your state’s Senators’ Web sites, then click on the link to contact the Senator.)
Please copy the text of this letter and paste it into an email to your Senator or Representative’s office.
Dear Senator/Representative:
Light pollution is a growing national and global problem that wastes billions of dollars in energy costs and creates massive greenhouse gas emissions. It threatens species– including humans– and hides the night sky, a timeless world cultural heritage. Light pollution is a problem that can be reduced simply by using environmentally responsible lighting when lighting is necessary, and no more light than is necessary for its intended purpose.
The time to act is now because, if not carefully implemented, new energy saving lighting technology can have unintended consequences: more light pollution; dangerous and annoying glare; effects on the environment. The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) is a recognized technical expert in this area, with a twenty year history in the fight, and expert insight into the changing face of outdoor lighting.
The IDA is holding Congressional briefings on light pollution at noon on July 13 Room B339 Rayburn (House); July 14 Room SVC 210-212 (Senate). You and your staff have been invited to these briefings; I urge you to attend this luncheon event so you can help begin the long process of saving energy and reclaiming the night sky. Contact Milton Roney (milt@darksky.org) if there are any questions.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Thank you for taking this important step for our ongoing fight to save the skies!
Utah’s House members vote against climate change bill
June 29th, 2009
Yesterday, Republicans and Democrats within the house of representatives passed a newly drafted bipartisan Climate Bill (a.k.a The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009) 219-212 tackling pollution, global warming and climate change. Surprisingly enough Democratic Representative Jim Matheson of Utah voted “No,” amongst the three other Republican Representatives Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz. Representative Matheson represents one of the only three Democrats who voted “No.” Representative Matheson purports that the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 requires restructuring and would negatively impact Utah.
“We’ve got to address climate change, and we’ve got to address energy independence; I hope we continue to work on those two issues. [Although] there’s a real regional income transfer that’s not fair to some regions of the country and in this case, it’s not fair to Utah.” - Representative Jim Matheson.
As most Utah residents know, Utah still utilizes several coal powered plants. Yes, the coal industry would hurt in Utah but what about the opportunity to create cleaner and more sustainable energy? As a resident in Salt Lake City, I can’t tell you how awful the inversions in the surrounding Utah valleys can truly be year round - it’s quite horrible. Granted, its certainly not just coal plants, for cars contribute to the problem; if more funds were directed toward cleaner energy, overall air and quality of life would improve. Even though the the climate bill passed in the House of Representatives, it still needs to pass through Congress. Perhaps an oversight on Matheson’s part, but bills can be restructured through the different mediums of our governmental system. Nonetheless, the bill was passed without the help of Matheson, Bishop and Chaffetz and hopefully the Senate will deliberate, put aside ideological partisan apprehension and jointly agree upon the importance of our environment.
As a website dedicated to eradicating light pollution once and for all, Starry Night Lights supports The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 bill. Light pollution affects all of us. As further evidence unveils itself regarding the impact of light pollution on creatures (including humans), inform your congressmen of the importance of light pollution. Light pollution is 100% irreversible.
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Let your weekend shine a little brighter this weekend at Bogus Basin
June 27th, 2009
What: Summer star party!
When: Today Saturday, June 27 at 7p.m.
Where: Bogus Basin, Idaho - Frontier Point Lodge and parking lot at Bogus Basin, 2600 Bogus Basin Road
Why: To see the naked dark sky in all its majesty
First and foremost, volunteers from the Boise National Forest will take participants on a dusk hike to the astronomical site. Whilst on the hike (~8:00), they’ll answer any questions regarding any of the local fauna and flora.Then once darkness falls over the land (~10:30p.m.), volunteers from the Boise Astronomical Society will have several telescopes setup towards the heavens. They’ll of course answer any questions regarding which constellations and stars you’ll be gazing upon. For instance, right now the constellations scorpius (the scorpion), sagittarius (the archer), aquila (the eagle), sagitta (the arrow), delphinus (the dolphin), cygnus (the swan), and lyra (the lyre) can be seen by the naked eye. Boasting volenteer experts from both the National Forest and Astronomical Society, one would expect it to cost some coin. Fear not - it’s free. Donations per carload are certainly appreciated, but the organizers do ask to dim your headlights when entering and leaving the parking lot.
Great Basin Star Party
June 25th, 2009
Mark your calendar, folks. This coming Saturday, June 27 marks the night of the Great Basin Star Party. Located at Great Basin National Park in west/central Nevada, the event is being sponsored by the National Park Conservation Association. Great Basin NP has the distinction of having the darkest skies in the lower 48 states. This, according to the National Park Service’s Night Sky Team makes them an ideal place to spend the upcoming new moon (or any new moon for that matter. Great Basin NP is located far from any major cities (or even small towns), and as such does not have to deal with the growing number of nearby outdoor lights and the associated effects of light pollution on its skies. Because of this, you can see the night sky as it’s supposed to be… filled with stars from horizon to horizon.
So, if you have a telescope, bring it. Binoculars? Yup… bring them… you’ll be amazed at what you can see. No optical equipment, at all? No problem. There will be a number of astronomers on hand with telescopes setup to show you the wonders of the summer night sky. This is a highly-recommended event, check it out if you can.
Diagnosis: Excessive Light Consumption is Dangerous To Your Health!
June 23rd, 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen, open up and say ‘aahhhh.’
The American Medical Association has hereby decreed light pollution as a detrimental source to our overall health. Three resolutions have been drafted and approved on June 15th, 2009 by the AMA. Take this prescription and read its instructions carefully:
RESOLVED That our AMA advocate that all future outdoor lighting be of energy efficient designs to reduce waste of energy and production of greenhouse gasses that result from this wasted energy use, and be it further
RESOLVED That our AMA develop and enact a policy that supports light pollution reduction efforts and glare reduction efforts at both the national and state levels; and be it further
RESOLVED That our AMA support that all future streetlights will be of a fully shielded design or similar non-glare design to improve the safety of our roadways for all, but especially vision impaired and older drivers.
Furthermore, take as needed for pain.
- Doctor’s Orders.
This is inline with what we at Starry Night Lights have been saying for quite some time. Light pollution isn’t just about astronomers…. or energy waste… or nocturnal animals…. light pollution is a growing threat to YOUR health. As such, it should be taken seriously. All outdoor lights should be turned on only when and if needed. Follow our Outdoor Lighting Guidelines for a healthier, more beautiful and environmentally friendly home.
Bats avoid flying by streetlight
June 22nd, 2009“The magnitude of the effect was surprising: with the lights on, there was about a quarter to an eighth of the activity - or number of bats flying along the route - compared to when the lights were off.” - Professor Gareth Jones
In a recent scientific study, researchers have discovered artificial light sources may alter a bat’s flight route for food. As nocturnal creatures, bats operate and hunt for food during night time. Biologist Emma Stone traced several flight patterns of nearby bat colonies and installed artificial outdoor light sources along the way. The lights themselves were intended to replicate sodium streelights found within most cities. As the aforementioned quote reveals, researchers found that the bats were sensitive toward the light and opted for less efficient / more dangerous routes. Whilst most bats utilize Echolocation, i.e. biological sonar, as a way of navigating, its directional and limited range hinders its overall effectiveness at detecting predators. Since bats travel in darkness, traveling in light would therefore make them more vulnerable to predatory attacks.
Light pollution not only affects humans but other creatures of the animal kingdom. Let us not become as ‘blind as a bat’ by installing more unshielded, uninformed, and unnecessary outdoor lighting, for Light pollution is 100% solvable.
Mystery of the Missing Sunspots, Solved?
June 18th, 2009The lack of sunspots for the past two years have baffled scientists. Some scientists have gone on to say that the sun’s current solar minimum may lead to a long period without sunspots (not since the 17th century). Today, two scientists may have an explanation regarding the present state of the sun. Rachel Howe and Frank Hill of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Tucson, Arizona, utilized an astronomy technique called helioseismology or rather the study of wave oscillations in the Sun to demonstrate otherwise. They both presented research at the American Astronomy society suggesting that a jet stream deep within the sun seems has slowed down through the star’s interior, thus the lack of sunspots. Helioseismology can sense 7,000km below the surface of the sun, allowing both Howe and Hill to follow the sun’s jet stream. Both Howe and Hill proposed that the Sun creates new jet streams every eleven years around the poles which progressively move toward the equator. As the new jet stream makes its way towards the equator, 22 degrees latitude seems to mark the creation of new sunspots. Dubbed the ‘critical latitude,’ Hill suggests “that just as this sluggish stream reaches the usual active latitude of 22 degrees, a year late, we finally begin to see new groups of sunspots emerging.”
Later in the year, NASA plans on launching the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SED)to further study and perhaps further support both Howe and Hill’s proposal. Dean Pesnell of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center believes the observatory will perhaps answer questions on “how jet streams trigger sunspot production” or “how the jet streams themselves are generated.” Perhaps in the future, we could predict the sun’s solar cycles.
Fireflies shine light on insect conservation
June 16th, 2009
AP Photo/Museum of Science, Don Salvatore
This photo released by the Museum of Science shows a firefly or lightning bug. Fireflies are neither bugs nor flies; they are actually beetles, which have two pairs of wings.
“You hear people saying, growing up I saw fireflies all the time, now I don’t see them anymore.” - Christopher Cratsley, a professor at Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts
Recent reports from around the globe have been quite capricious regarding firefly populations, suggesting either numerous influxes or sudden diminishment. Firefly Watch, an organization based at the Museum of Science in Boston, actively seeks to educate the public on fireflies as well as record observations from people across the globe. For starters, fireflies are not flies - they’re beetles. The life of a firefly consists of living underground as grubs or rather larva. When actually seen by the naked human eye, we’re witnessing roughly two weeks of the firefly’s total life. So what purpose do these fireflies exhibit above the surface? Well to mate of course. Male fireflies glow in order to attract the attention of onlooking females.
Wherein lies the problem?
Well, scientists have two possible answers. In general, Fireflies are prone to disturbances in their habitat whether below and above ground. Scientists believe think water pollution may have an affect on the spawn rate of larvae, particularly pertinent in southeast Asia. The southeastern firefly has shown a decline in population size up to 70 percent! But scientists suspect fireflies potentially lay vulnerable to another form of pollution: light pollution. Scientists suspect light pollution or excessive artificial light may potentially impact both male and females trying to find a suitable mate. If a correlation between fireflies and light pollution exists, it’ll add more evidence that creatures on the Earth are affected by light pollution to the : Sea turtles.
White Rooftops May Help Slow Warming
June 14th, 2009The United States’ Energy Secretary Steven Chu proposed at a recent talk of a ‘low-tech’ way of reducing global warming by painting rooftops white. Whilst black absorbs light better than any colour, white reflects better than any colour. Applying this reasoning to roofing would reduce global warming due to its increased albedo i.e. the extent of which an object diffusely reflects light from the sun. According to recent research, white-topped roofs reflect around 75% of light energy whereas black roofs absorb around 80% - white-topped buildings require less energy to cool. Whilst this idea doesn’t solve the ‘trapped green house gas’ problem within the atmosphere, it at least helps reduce the heat the planet absorbs. Mr. Chu further stated that if 63% of homes within 100 large cities within temperate / tropical areas across the globe utilized white-topped roofs, it would be the equivalent of removing all the world’s cars off the road for 10 years!
