We're Squandering LEDs' Potential to Save Our Night Skies
I explored London and Paris to see how LED streetlights are worsening light pollution despite their efficiency. While LEDs offer precise control to reduce glare and protect health, we often just install more of them, creating a Jevons paradox. Instead of smart, dimmable lighting, we are replacing old bulbs with brighter ones, harming our circadian rhythms and obscuring the stars.
"The more bad light we add, the more bad light we think we need. We can't see because of the light we've added. And it makes areas that were perfectly okay seem darker."
HN discussion
- Motion sensor streetlights are criticized for being unpredictable and distracting, potentially creating more annoyance than steady illumination for pedestrians and drivers.
- Dark urban parks can facilitate criminal activity by providing cover for attackers, as evidenced by multiple assaults in Edinburgh's Meadows, suggesting that total darkness compromises public safety.
- Excessive street lighting can paradoxically reduce safety by impairing human night vision and creating dangerous shadows, whereas dim, distributed string lights may offer a safer alternative.
- Professional astronomers face significant data loss when satellite trails ruin observation frames, as they often cannot retake exposures due to rigid scheduling and limited telescope time.
- The light pollution problem is accelerating exponentially as Starlink expands to 42,000 satellites and competitors like China's SpaceSail plan to launch 15,000 more by 2030.