The Environmental Toll of Excessive Light Consumption

Our cities shine with a luminous allure, but this allure comes at a significant environmental price.

The excessive use of artificial lighting contributes to a widespread problem known as light pollution, and its impact on our environment is far-reaching.

Not only that, but when the demand for electricity is above the average calculated by the electricity companies, they have to resort to even more polluting means to meet this demand, and even though we might believe that this only happens from time to time, is the opposite.

It happens at least once a day

Illuminating the Problem

“The Science Behind Light Pollution”

Scientific studies have shown that artificial light scatter disrupts ecosystems, leading to a myriad of ecological challenges. It not only confuses wildlife, affecting their natural behaviors and mating patterns, but also has a direct impact on human circadian rhythms. Exposure to excessive artificial light during nighttime can disrupt our sleep patterns and contribute to various health issues, including sleep disorders.

Moreover, light pollution obscures our view of the night sky. According to the International Dark-Sky Association, over 80% of the world’s population lives under light-polluted skies, preventing millions from experiencing the beauty of a truly starry night.

When we consider the compounding effects of light pollution alongside the well-documented impact of fossil fuel consumption, such as coal and oil, on global warming, we are confronted with an intricate web of environmental change. While the consequences of excessive fossil fuel use are often more apparent, the environmental impact of light pollution can be equally profound, if not harder to measure in the short term.

It’s important to recognize that global warming is not solely a consequence of pollutants affecting the ozone layer or an increase in solar energy absorption. The intricate changes in the behavior of species on our planet, alterations in the chemistry of ecosystems, disruptions to natural activity patterns due to artificial light, and more, all play a role in the broader environmental shifts we are witnessing.

In this context, mitigating light pollution becomes not just an environmental concern but also a critical component of our efforts to combat global warming and protect the delicate balance of our ecosystems.

Beyond the Bright Lights

To understand the full scope of the problem, it’s crucial to dig into the details of how and where we overuse lighting in our daily lives.

Streetlights alone consume a substantial amount of power and emit a significant amount of light that is scattered into the night sky.

According to recent studies, street lighting accounts for approximately 30-50% of a municipality’s electricity consumption, making it a notable contributor to light pollution.

Beyond streetlights, billboards also play a role. Research by the International Dark-Sky Association indicates that illuminated billboards can have a light intensity significantly brighter than necessary for advertising purposes.

Additionally, residential lighting contributes to the cumulative effect. A report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) reveals that inefficient residential lighting practices result in wasted energy equivalent to the output of 45 power plants annually in the United States alone.

Clearly our collective lighting choices have a substantial impact on the problem

OhmConnect: A Solution for Eco-Friendly Living

OhmConnect emerges as a ray of hope.

This innovative platform enables people to take control of their energy use, reduce their carbon footprint, and combat light pollution.

Beyond that, the effect of OhmConnect is not only reflected in the environment, it also generates significant savings for consumers and added to that, they give rewards, prizes and extra money to people for saving on their consumption.

Incredibly, they have created a model that is not only free but also ends up paying you to save on your electricity bill.