Chapter 19 – Vanity Lighting

Discussion

The invention of LED outdoor lighting has allowed us to install lights solely for the purpose of adding flair to architecture.  Figure 1 shows a bridge lit in color lights solely due to human vanity.  The creatures that live in the area such as fish and birds are negatively affected.

Figure 1 – Bridge lights affecting fish.

      Figure 2 shows colored lights on a building which decrease darkness and create light pollution.  These lights serve no useful function but do negatively impact human health and our ecosystem.

Figure 2 – Colored lights on building

ALAN, next to affecting nocturnal behaviors, can also affect daytime behavioral processes, associated with risk-taking.[1]

Proposed Regulations

We propose that vanity lighting be prohibited for outdoor use.


[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-32466-3