DeKalb has made major strides towards environmental sustainability and awareness.
The city has achieved many landmark victories for green policymaking, including the recent passing of an ordinance that allows for well-managed native habitats in residential lots and the adoption of the city of DeKalb Sustainability Plan in 2014 (for which ongoing planning is being performed to review and update by the end of the year).
However, there are still environmental concerns that are not being fully addressed, such as the issue of nighttime light pollution and intrusion.
Light pollution is the presence of unwanted or excessive artificial lighting, the effects of which are most easily seen at night. Light intrusion is a less well-known concern that involves artificial lighting interfering with neighboring areas, unwanted illumination of properties near a lit area.
Imagine that you live next to a large grocery store or a 24-hour fast food chain or any business that is well-lit by high-illumination bulbs running throughout the night.
This is quite commonplace in DeKalb, especially along Route 23. The simple fact of the lights being illuminated throughout the entire night constitutes light pollution. And neighboring residents who are impacted by those lights are victims of light intrusion.
Many of us are aware of some of the issues associated with nighttime light pollution, especially as it changes our ability to view the night sky. However, these phenomena have a wide array of negative impacts, many of which are not well-known, although they can and do directly affect life in DeKalb for both wildlife and residents.
These impacts can be divided into a few major categories with the following effects: Negative impacts on wildlife and ecosystems, negative consequences for human physical health and mental well-being, and negative impacts on enjoyment of the nighttime environment, such as viewing the night sky.
The negative impacts on wildlife and ecosystems can have serious consequences for those in DeKalb who enjoy outdoor activities such as birdwatching or hiking, since nighttime light pollution and intrusion can interfere with the mating and migration habits of many species. These interferences can cause our regional ecosystem be become destabilized.
Nighttime light pollution and intrusion also can have serious impacts on the physical and mental health of DeKalb residents. Long-term exposure to nighttime lighting, especially when the involved light falls on the cooler end of the color spectrum (like the Huskie Stadium lights), can seriously disrupt human sleep patterns and circadian rhythms.
This can cause people to feel fatigued, as well as creating mental stresses that can lead to anxiety and depression. In addition to these effects, anyone who wants to fully see the stars in the nighttime sky must drive miles out of town due to the light pollution from highly developed areas of DeKalb.
This article will hopefully serve to raise awareness about the consequences of nighttime light pollution and intrusion in DeKalb. However, future articles will expand on these consequences, as well as discuss solutions that can be used to help limit these impacts and address this issue more fully.
- Nick Newman is the vice chairperson for the city of DeKalb’s Citizens’ Environmental Commission.