Milford Township is debating a proposed lighting code amendment that would force business to turn their lights off 1/2 hour after closing. This has spurred a huge debate within the community. Those for the proposal say it will reduce light pollution. Those against it say that its an invitation for more crime. However, Milford Police Chief Wayne Walli said there is no solid evidence to support the claim that crime goes up when lighting is decreased. "Conventional wisdom says more lighting is better for crime prevention and other safety issues," Walli said. "Certainly, our experience shows that may not be occurring at all. We have many recent examples of well-lit business that have been hit very hard (with break-ins and other crime)... "Criminals need light to work by"

The paper indicates that the widespread exponential growth of outdoor lighting is unsustainable.  Light pollution is likewise growing unsustainably.  This is bad news in terms of the adverse effects of artificial light on climate change, health, safety, wellbeing and biodiversity.  This in addition to the increasing difficulties that artificial sky glow from outdoor lighting is inflicting on astronomical research, education and recreation.

After years of watching their night skies degrade, residents of Los Alamitos, California are studying a proposed night sky ordinance (the first city in Orange County) that could be reverse the trend.

Light Pollution Crackdown 

Forced into action by rising energy costs, one town has finally decided to take action against the growing problem of light pollution.

Let There Be Dark 

Ecological Light Pollution 

Ecological light pollution alters natural light regimes in terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems. Some of the catastrophic consequences of light for certain taxonomic groups are well known, such as the deaths of migratory birds around tall lighted structures, and those of hatchling sea turtles disoriented by lights on their natal beaches. The more subtle influences of artificial night lighting
on the behavior and community ecology of species are less well recognized, and constitute a new focus for research in ecology and a pressing conservation challenge.

The Light-Cancer Connection 

 "Simply put, light at night snuffs out one of the body's most powerful anticancer crusaders, a hormone called melatonin. Because it's only active at night, melatonin has been dubbed "the hormone of darkness." It's the perfect name for a biological superhero. But if melatonin is the body's superhero, then light is its nemesis, and research suggests it's gaining the upper hand. "

Lights Cloud The Night Sky 

 Read about one resort communities efforts to reclaim the night sky.

American Association for Cancer Research  

 "These results are the first to show that the tumor growth response to exposure to light during darkness is intensity dependent and that the human nocturnal, circadian melatonin signal not only inhibits human breast cancer growth but that this effect is extinguished by short-term ocular exposure to bright, white light at night."

Night-shift women face cancer risk

Women who work night shifts are more likely to get breast cancer... due to suppressed melatonin production... from exposure to light at night.

Baltimore Thieves Stealing Street Lights

So much for the often stated reason for adding street lights... for security purposes. A gang in Baltimore has begun stealing the darn things for scrap value. And, not just one or two... they've stolen over 130 of the 30' tall structures. Perhaps  communities ought to rethink their street lighting efforts?

Starry, Starry Night? It Could Be, But You Wouldn't Know It

We light up so many things for so many different reasons that the only thing we can't see at nights anymore are the stars.

New York Dims Lights To Save Migratory Birds

Dozens of skyscrapers will take part in a project to protect migratory birds by dimming their lights at night. Each year hundreds of thousands of birds are killed by collisions with brightly lit buildings.

Students Take On Light Pollution

A 9 year old girl got up before the local planning commission to educate them on the adverse effects of light pollution.

Car Break-ins Under Glaring Street Lights

Residents of a small northern Iowa town awoke to a series of car break-ins. Many of which occurred "under the glare of city street lights". Perhaps overusing lights isn't the solution afterall?

Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting

I just got word of a new, groundbreaking book on the impact of artificial night lighting. It's entitled, "Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting"... and is due to be released sometime in November. Published by Island Press, this book is sure to shed some light (pun intended) on the very important, if somewhat mis-understood, topic of light pollution.

Detroit Area Beacons

Sun Valley, Idaho Lighting Ordinance

Sun Valley, Idaho Lighting Ordinance Brochure

Idaho Stargazers Fret Over Light Pollution

-- Idaho Stargazers Fret Over Light Pollution

Electricity Use Continues To Grow

-- an article in the New York Times (Requires Free Subscription)

CYPRESS HILLS INTERPROVINCIAL PARK DESIGNATED AS A DARK SKY PRESERVE - Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is the first provincial park in both
Saskatchewan and Alberta to be officially recognized as a Dark Sky Preserve
What are they thinking? -- Newark, NJ lights up the night sky
Yahoo! News -- New studies are linking light at night and increased Childhood Leukemia
Medical Hypothesis -- Lighting for Public Health. Light at Night linked to increases in several forms of cancer (PDF)
Denver Post -- The University of Denver's Meyer-Womble Observatory is struggling against the growing glare of Denver
Idaho Mountain Express -- Sun Valley, Idaho becomes the latest community to enact a comprehensive light pollution control ordinance
Utah Skies/Boyer Company Reach Agreement -- Utah Skies works with developer to reach a compromise deal to help preserve the dark skies over Summit County
Turtles lured to disco death in Greece -- Disco lights are luring baby turtles to their deaths on the fringes of a Greek marine park in the Mediterranean Sea.
Heavens Above, Parking Lot Below -- A New York Times Ob/Ed piece describes the problem of Light Pollution
Security Lighting and Its Impact on the Landscape -- A Journal of Arboriculture article describing the negative impact of light at night on plants
Idaho Mountain Express -- Hailey, Idaho gives back the night
Turn Down the Lights -- A Discover Magazine article about the harmful affects of Light Pollution on Nature