Alexa Pittenger, a Eureka Springs massage therapist who lives in rural Carroll County, doesn’t have an outdoor yard light and prefers it that way.
“In my role as a health and wellness advocate, I often encounter clients who have trouble sleeping,” Pittenger said. “Artificial light often plays a part in disrupting our biological clock, our circadian rhythm by changing our hormone levels. As well as affecting us, of course, inappropriate outdoor lighting also disrupts nocturnal animals’ behaviors and navigating abilities. Personally, it would be devastating to me if I could not see the majesty of the night’s sky. That would be soul crushing.”
Pittenger is a member of the Arkansas Natural Sky Association Facebook Group that works to educate the public and utilities about the growing problem of light pollution and the responsible lighting practices needed to combat it.
“We’re losing the night sky across the whole country,” Arkansas Natural Sky Association (ANSA) chair and Little Rock attorney Bruce McMath, said. “There is no naturally dark place left in Arkansas, for example, although there are places that are close like Buffalo River National Park. Light at night is a direct assault on the environment, and has implications for wildlife and public health. The American Medical Association has issued two public health statements on the risks of light exposure at night. It impacts plants, insects and people. Everything on the surface of the planet has evolved with a cycle of night and day. Our biology is cued by the rising and setting of the sun. When you create artificial days, it interferes with the natural process.”
Some studies indicate a link between night lighting and obesity, diabetes and depression, all of which are epidemic in the United States. There is also concern about an increased risk of cancer, in particular breast and prostate cancer.
McMath said the mission of the ANSA is to educate people about the need to be responsible with outdoor lighting, including what type of lighting is used, when to use it and how to fix problems with excess lighting, such as aiming the light correctly.
“The basic principle is to only use outdoor lighting when needed,” he said. “This means using switches, timers and motion sensors, where needed, and it means using properly aimed, shielded fixtures that don’t put light in your neighbor’s bedroom or the sky. Use the least amount necessary for the purpose, and use a minimum of blue light, as blue light is the spectrum that impacts biology, primarily.”
Reducing outdoor lighting also could have a significant impact helping preserve the climate.
“Outdoor lighting at night is a large contributor to carbon emissions,” McMath said. “And the idea that night lighting improves security is a complete fraud. There is no evidence that leaving a light on all night long accomplishes anything and it can actually facilitate crime. It does cost you money and contributes to climate change. Over a year, a 100-watt bulb puts a half ton of carbon into the atmosphere. It is also money transferring from your bank account to the utility.”
McMath said Eureka Springs is one of the few cities in the state that uses properly shielded street lights.
“Eureka is sort of a pioneer in that in Arkansas,” he said. “In Europe and increasingly in other places in this country, when you go to LED fixtures you can do neat things like dimming or turning them off at night. That is widespread in the U.K. You can really cut your carbon use.”
Switching to more energy-efficient LEDs uses about half as much energy, which also cuts energy bills.
McMath said National Parks across the country are leaders in recognizing this concern and trying to respond to it. He expects the Buffalo River National Park will become Arkansas’s first International Dark Sky Park.
“Our position is if you lose the sky, you are going to lose the river because more and more ecotourists or urbanites seeking nature want nature at night, as well as in the day,” McMath said. “We need to protect the water quality in our river and the sky at night. That’s why we went to Carroll Electric, because they serve the middle part of the river. Once we get things solidified with CECC, we plan to go to the other two electric utilities in the area and ask them to do the same thing.”
The association has a website with information about the CECC campaign at darkskyarkansas.com/how-you-can-help/carroll-electric/.
“Carroll Electric is the state’s fourth largest electric utility, by customers served, and one of three electric co-ops that serve the beautiful Ozark region of our state,” the website states. “Many of the people who live in the region treasure its natural nighttime skies. Unfortunately, naturally dark skies are disappearing like a spring snowfall, making the Ozark region’s skies an increasingly important and rare element of its natural beauty.
“Technology has allowed us to alter our relationship with nature in ways that improve the human condition. However, we have repeatedly learned that there can be latent costs. Artificial light is a powerful example. It is incumbent upon us to use it responsibly in order to derive its benefits while minimizing adverse consequences.”
Nancy Plagge, spokeswoman for CECC, said that since November 2017, Carroll Electric has only been installing LED outdoor lights that are fully compliant with Dark Skies guidelines. The company offers three standard lights:
- Residential at $8.92/mo.
- Commercial at $13.65/mo.
- Industrial at $32.91/mo.
“All three have a $50 connect fee when installed new on an existing pole,” Plagge said. “The residential light can also be affixed with a shield for more directional lighting for an additional monthly charge. I believe the shielded light is $9.27/mo.”
Since last July, requests to repair older lights (mercury vapor or high-pressure sodium) are being handled by conversion to LED fixtures. Old-style light is being removed and the LED light is being installed. There is a one-time charge of $55 for this conversion.
“The monthly charge for each light still includes all the electricity and maintenance required,” Plagge said. “They are controlled by a photo cell which allows them to come on at dusk and turn off at dawn. We are presently working on a multi-year plan to convert all existing lights to LED if the member wishes to continue with an outdoor light.”