Author: ehucke

When hearing about pollution, one typically thinks about air, water, and land. However, there are other types that are impactful and not as talked about. One of these types is light pollution. Although artificial light has been a great and impactful invention, we produce a lot of waste.  The misuse of artificial light impacts the environment both directly and indirectly. This has impacts on the environment, economy, and ecosystems.

Light pollution can be divided into four components. First there is glare which is “excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort” (darksky). There is also skyglow: “brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas” (darksky). Another aspect is light trespass which is “light falling where it is not intended or need” (darksky). Last, there is clutter, which is “bright, confusing, and excessive groupings of light sources” (darksky). These four types combine to make it harder to see the night sky. This impacts not only humans, but wildlife.

Artificial lighting creates a lot of waste and harm; economically, environmentally, and is even dangerous to health. Poorly managed outdoor lighting wastes about $10 per U.S. citizen. In regard to the environment, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to power outdoor lighting is the same as 3 million passenger cars (darksky). Along with need massive amounts of carbon dioxide, artificial light messes up body patterns in animals and humans. This includes the circadian rhythm which helps regulate our sleeping pattern. “An increasing amount of light at night lower melatonin production, which results in sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety, and other health problems” (natgeo). Light pollution blocks moonlight which hinders the migratory patterns of birds, sea turtles, and other animals. This causes them to lose sense of direction and possibly die.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using certain lightbulbs also have an impact on energy efficiency and sustainability. There are three main types of light bulbs: incandescent, CFL (Compact Fluorescent), and LED (Light-emitting Diodes). Incandescent bulbs are the most wasteful, in fact, generating heat is “90% of their output” (onecommunityglobal). This heat can also heat up one’s residence, increasing the air conditioning bill (as well as greenhouse gas emissions).  CFLs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10,000 hours (10 times longer). However, they are not the most efficient light bulb. That title belongs to the LEDs. They can last 50,000 hours and emit little (if any) heat. The only downside is that they can be more expensive ($5, vs. $2 and $1 in CFLs and LEDs, respectively).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the cabins, we have several amenities in order to limit light usage and pollution. The bathrooms have special sun lights so that we do not have to turn any artificial lighting on until at night. They do a great job of lighting up the room, so that it even works in the evening. We also have LED-strips around the common area, so that we do not have to use the other lights at night. However, there are some issues with artificial lighting and living in a dorm. Since we do not pay the electricity bill, students may be prone to leaving their lights on without a care. These are indoor lights so they do not severely impact light pollution, but this still burns fossil fuels, wastes money, and can contribute to some light pollution. I usually turn off my own lights in my room, but I can be guilty of not turning lights off in the common area. However, I have gotten better about it. If there is no one in the common area and I am leaving it, I will make sure to turn the main lights off.

Light pollution is a lesser known but harmful detriment to the environment. It directly harms human health, natural habitats, and stops us from enjoying the beauty of the night sky. Indirectly, too much light usage uses up more fossil fuels and drives up energy costs. By making sure to use sustainable light bulbs, improving natural lighting, and turning off lights when not in use, humans can live a healthier and more sustainable life.

LED Light Bulbs: Comparison Charts | Eartheasy Guides & Articles

Light Bulb Buying Guide: How to Choose LEDs, CFLs – Even WiFi Smart Lights | HGTV

Light Pollution | National Geographic Society

Light Pollution: The Overuse & Misuse of Artificial Light at Night – JMU

Light Pollution Wastes Energy and Money – International Dark-Sky Association (darksky.org)

Most Sustainable Lightbulbs & Light Bulb Companies Research & Savings (onecommunityglobal.org)

Each year, the average American family wastes 9,400 gallons of water. This waste of water has major impacts on both the economy and the environment. Wasted water must be treated in a plant, using up extra energy. This increases costs for both the plant and the shower user. This also harms the environment, as the unneeded consumption of water depletes freshwater sources and disrupts ecosystems. Water heaters also use fossil fuels, and extra burning further harms the environment. 2,920 gallons of this wasted water are due to the shower alone. Being more sustainable in the shower can greatly help save energy and the environment.

Waiting for water to heat up is a major waste of water. An average shower (8.2 minutes using 17.2 gallons of water) wastes 3.44 gallons of water each use. Replacing a tank water heater with a tankless hot water heater can help with this water waste. It produces hot water on demand, cutting out the time needed to wait for the water to get hot. It is also more energy-efficient and only costs $15-40 per month. However, installation may be costly, around $400-1000. If one is willing to pay the steep up-front cost, they will save money in the future, around $15-25 a month.

If one is not able to purchase a tankless water heater, there are other ways to limit water waste. One way to lower water costs would be to limit showers to five minutes. There are many ways one can check their time. In the Greenbelt community, some people have hourglasses that can stick to the shower wall. Setting phone timers, playing a five-minute song, or counting backward from 300 also works. I have used both the hourglass and phone timers which are both very useful.

Another way someone can be more sustainable is in the shampoo or soap one uses. Shampoos can contain harmful chemicals that hurt both the user and the environment. These chemicals can be harmful on their own, but also how they are extracted. For example, some companies extract palm oil by clearing out rainforests. Other chemicals, such are triclosan, directly affect human hormone systems and harm aquatic life. Using alternatives such as organic shampoos are very beneficial. They will also be great for health in the long run, as they are less irritating and are better for one’s skin. The website “ethical consumer” has a lot of great information on ethical shampoo if you want to learn more.

Changing the way one showers is a simple yet effective way to be sustainable. It does not have to be expensive. In fact, limiting the time one showers will lower the water bill. Changes such as tankless water heaters and organic shampoos may seem expensive short term but may help save a lot of money long term. In Greenbelt, some of us have experimented with green shampoos and have worked on limiting our time in the shower. It does not matter if you are very wealthy or are lower income, we can all do our part to go green while getting clean!

 

Works Cited:

4 Ways to Measure a 5 Minute Shower | Sustainability at Harvard

Dissecting the Average Shower and Its Impact on the Planet: An Invitation to Collaborate — Part One: Human Water Usage and Global Impact « Journal of Sustainability Education (susted.com)

Ethical Shampoo Brands | Shopping guide from Ethical Consumer

How Much Water Does the Average American Waste? (myheatworks.com)

Is a tankless water heater worth it? – Help Advisor Reviews (helpadvisors.org)

Is Taking Long Showers Bad for the Environment? | Impactful Ninja

Statistics and Facts | US EPA