Elizabeth Ball seeks ‘dark sky’ legislation for Vancouver light pollution
I do not listen to talk radio – not even worthy programmes such as Rick Cluff’s Early Edition on CBC. My political sympathies are usually somewhat distant from the NPA – but that doesn’t stop them having Really Good Ideas. I hope that Vancouver City Council gives this one a careful hearing.
Whenever you fly at night time across North America, all you have to do is lift the blind on your window to see light pollution. It is of course the result of our obsessions with our need for security and safety. But streetlighting need not light up the sky.
My own personal concern with this is not actually about street lighting, but the practice of lighting private sector parking lots at night. And she has that covered too “putting limits on lighting on private properties like illuminated signs and flood lights.”
It is a huge waste of energy, of course, and one that could be easily reduced. And while Elizabeth Ball rightly concentrates on health impacts, my own desire is simply to be able to see some stars on clear nights. The CBC is very good at telling us when the Perseid meteor showers might be visible – or even the Northern Lights! But from our 6th floor windows the only lights in the night sky come from passing aircraft.
UPDATE Feb 4
Stephen Rees's blog 
Instead, I propose a giant “light umbrella”, built over the city at 5,000 feet. In the centre is a large pulley operated elevator, along with a staircase, whereby stationary bikes can be used to power the elevator for the elderly, and the exercise conscious can take the stairs, providing a central alternative to the Grouse Grind! Once atop the lookout, you will be far enough away from any light pollution, among other things. How about it, Vancouver!?
jmv
February 6, 2015 at 2:17 pm