When was the last time you were bedazzled by the Milky Way? Perhaps during a blackout? Or in some remote outback in Utah?

Certainly not in your backyard in Nassau County. That rosy glow from New York City is an ever-present fact of nightlife that has robbed us of the mind-bending glimpses of the universe that simultaneously make us feel like a speck and yet connected to something grand. Only one third of all Americans can now see the Milky Way due to the ubiquitous Vegas-style lighting that has proliferated gradually and steadily across our country.

But on the East End of Long Island, the Milky Way is still visible, thanks to Susan Harder and other light-minded activists, who are uniting to take back the night sky. Ms. Harder, who serves on light advisory committees for Southampton and East Hampton and on the board of the Montauk Observatory, recently spoke at a seminar for local officials sponsored by the Nassau County Planning Federation. Ms. Harder makes it clear that light pollution, a term that refers to outdoor lighting that is "misdirected, unshielded, unnecessary and excessive," is not just an aesthetic concern for stargazers. Staggering amounts of energy and money are wasted; there are ecological disturbances to wildlife and flora and there are consequences to human health as well.

"More light is not better light," she said. Excessive light produces glare which makes night driving more difficult and tiring. Confusion from glare sometimes plays a role in nighttime automobile accidents and shoreline glare reflecting on the water may cause distortions hindering maritime navigation.

Light pollution interferes with circadian rhythms promoting sleep and immune system disturbances. According to Ms. Harder, more and more studies are linking nighttime exposure to light to breast and prostate cancer. Darkness is needed for the body's production of melatonin, a light-sensitive, beneficial chemical produced in the brain.

Although not quantifiable, glaring floodlights from a neighbor's home into one's home can be irritating and there is even a term for it ---light trespassing.

The National Audubon Society has sounded the alarm that thousands of birds die every year during migration because light pollution distracts birds from the visual cues they receive from the stars and the moon. Many species of nocturnal animals are especially vulnerable to the effects of light pollution. Sea turtle hatchings subjected to light pollution become disoriented while trying to find their way to the water. It has been found that high levels of artificial light negatively influence growth patterns in trees.

The International Dark Sky Association in Tucson, Arizona estimates that $4,500,000,000 per year in the U.S. is wasted by excessive lighting, which consumes 6 million tons of coal and 23 million barrels of oil per year.

In essence, light pollution contributes to air pollution.

Every kilowatt spent causes the release of 1.2 pounds of carbon dioxide, 2 grams of sulfur dioxide and 1.6 grams of nitric oxide. This adds up when one considers that our yearly output of 62 billion kWh equals 40 million tons of carbon dioxide, 1.4 million tons of sulfur dioxide, and 1.1 million tons of nitric oxide.

Unlike many environmental problems where the solutions are complex, costly, and overwhelming, the good news is that reducing light pollution is relatively easy and cost efficient once people become educated and government leads the way through local and state legislation providing common sense guidelines.

Roadway lighting that shines light upwards and outwards, where it is not needed, produces 30 to 50 percent of all light pollution. Street lights and outside light fixtures, that are shielded, shine light where it needs to be for drivers and pedestrians, downward.

The city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada just completed a retrofit of 37,500 streetlights that will save energy, reduce glare and improve visibility while saving the taxpayers $2 million a year in lower energy costs.

On Long Island, LIPA has replaced hundreds of floodlights at its operating yards with full cut-off fixtures. Former LIPA chairman, Richard Kessel stated, "I am proud that LIPA is leading by example." LIPA also provides a free lighting design service for commercial or governmental customers to give them state-of-the-art advice in installing more energy efficient and non-polluting lights.

Some states, Washington, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, have legislation in place that requires retrofits of streetlights.

The 2007 New York State Assembly considered "The Healthy, Safe and Energy Efficient Outdoor Lighting Act" (S04364 and A07438) to reduce harmful outdoor lighting. It would set standards for outdoor lighting and distribute a model lighting code. It would require all publicly funded new and replacement lights to be fully shielded and alternative methods to be explored instead of using light. Exceptions would be made for holiday lights and flag lighting.

Although the Assembly passed the bill by a wide margin, the Senate version did not reach the floor. Although its proponents were disappointed, it will be reintroduced in the 2008 session.

Some entities have voluntarily complied with the proposed shielding regulations. They are LIPA, the Town and Village of East Hampton, Brookhaven, Southampton, Suffolk County and Riverhead.

When Ms. Harder makes presentations to groups, she frequently is asked, "What about deterring crimes and vandalism? Aren't fully lighted buildings safer?"

First, keep in mind that the majority of crimes, 66 percent, occur during the day and in lighted environments. The U.S. Department of Justice conducted a study about preventing crime that concluded, "There is a strong indication that increased lighting only decreases the fear of crime."

Ms. Harder quoted from a survey conducted on inmates in a prison in England who were convicted of property crimes. What made a criminal think twice before trying to enter a property? Fifteen percent named dogs as deterrents; 15 percent said that the appearance of someone at home stopped them. Security lighting was not even on the chart. Security experts recommend two indoor lamps on independent timers and/or an alarm system.

A school district in San Antonio, Texas that had been plagued with vandalism started a nighttime blackout program at 19 schools. Although it seems counter-intuitive, vandalism damage in the district was reduced from $160,000 to $41,000 per year. Officials concluded that there "was no thrill out of working in the dark."

Even sports arenas become better neighbors with the installation or retrofitting of shielded sports lights.

The other good news is that lighting manufacturers are producing a wide assortment of streetlights and fixtures, even historical reproductions, that are shielded. In addition, add-on shields may be purchased to clip onto existing fixtures. The gold standard for light fixtures is one that has no light above a 90-degree angle.

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are 4 times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent lights. They are also available now in many styles even globe and candelabra shapes. If you object to the blue-white of typical fluorescent lights, look for those marked "warm white."

If you would like to replace holiday lights with more energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) lights, you may visit the LIPA website, www.lipower.org and download a coupon worth $2 for up to 5 LED packages of holiday lights at participating dealers.

Ms. Harder recommends that communities that want to begin to systematically address light pollution should form a small citizen advisory committee drawing on residents interested in the topic. There are national and local organizations that can assist in providing information and strategies for taking steps to reduce light pollution.

Perhaps the first step is to just look around. Once there is an awareness that those insistent, blinding lights can be toned down, action can be taken. And maybe someday, right here at home, we will be able to look up and once more see that dazzling spectacle in the sky.

For more information go to:

www.selene-ny.org

www.darksky.org

www.darkskysociety.org (Long Island)

www.lipower.org