Sustainability > Global Warming. Global Warming may be the equivalent of creationism science but sustainability needs no science. It is obvious that sustainability of all our planet’s natural and biological resources is one of the greatest threats to survival of our species.
I’m no expert on energy conservation but it would seem we could do with more of it. Making my way through a city at night I often lament the excessive use of lighting. Take for instance your average office tower, which is lit from the ground up, from the top down the sides, and many of the empty floors in between. This is known as Light pollution.
Light pollution is mis-directed or mis-used lighting. While important as it relates to energy use and sustainability, today I’m reminded of it for a different reason, stargazing. In this regard, by polluting the sky with artificial lighting, light pollution reduces visibility of the night sky, limiting scientific astronomical observation and ruining the sport of stargazing.
I was introduced to it many years ago while stargazing at Bryce Canyon, and today I’m reminded of it as I wander the streets of Flagstaff, Arizona. With more than fifty years committed to limiting Light pollution, Flagstaff is the world’s first International Dark-Sky City – in this town, even McDonalds, KFC, and Taco Bell shine less bright. And the city is a whole lot more calm and natural for it.
Like many topics of sustainability the solution to Light pollution is very simple. Um, TURN DOWN AND TURN OUT THE LIGHTS!