That dome of light over Sacramento. It obscures the stars not only for us, but for birds that navigate by starlight. It even inteferes with space exploration! Lost birds, defunct observatories, and useless telescopes? Hella bad.
Anywhere light shouldn't be. Ever walked by someone's garage security lights that blasted you with light when you were on the sidewalk ... across the street? Yeah, that's light trespass. It wastes energy and money.
Bright, harsh light--basically, if it makes you squint, it's glare. Glare causes eye strain and, for some sensitive people, headaches. Glare is also terrible for security because criminals can hide in the shadow caused by glare!
Take a look at each of your outdoor lights. Ask ...
What function does this light serve? Visibility? Security? Ambience?
Where is the light pointing?
Light should point down, not out.
How much light do I really need to accomplish my purpose? Use as low an intensity (measured in "lumens") as possible. One lumen equals the brightness of one candle.
Can you turn the light off when it's not being used? Embrace technology:
Motion Detectors.
Timers.
Dimmers.
What color is the light? Opt for warm-colored lights like amber, not cold-colored lights like white.
2700 Kelvins or less.
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