WHEN THE NIGHT SKY TURNS TO DAY: WHAT IF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS LIT UP 24/7?
- Totally agree with you about the “brighter is better” thing being kind of ingrained. When we built our place, I got pushback for wanting fewer exterior lights, but honestly:
- Glare is real. The neighbor across the street has these floodlights that basically spotlight our bedroom. It’s like sleeping next to a sports field sometimes.
- Sleep does get messed up. I used to think blackout curtains were just for city folks, but now I get it. Melatonin doesn’t stand a chance against all this light.
- Energy bills creep up. We noticed ours went up when the porch lights were left on all night, even the “efficient” ones.
- The loss of stars is kind of sad too. Growing up, I could actually see the Milky Way sometimes. Now, even on clear nights, it’s just a handful of the brightest ones. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but I miss that.
- I do see where people are coming from with security concerns—my partner worries about dark corners in the yard. But honestly, motion sensors do the job without making it feel like noon at midnight.
- One thing I’ve noticed: people seem to think more light = more safety, but there’s research out there that says too much lighting can actually make things less safe by creating deep shadows and making it harder to see who’s out there.
- If you ever try to talk neighbors into smarter lighting, it’s an uphill battle... but worth it for better sleep and maybe a few more stars.
Not sure we’ll ever go back to truly dark nights in most neighborhoods, but targeted lighting seems like a good compromise between safety and sanity.
Glare is real. The neighbor across the street has these floodlights that basically spotlight our bedroom. It’s like sleeping next to a sports field sometimes.
We had the same issue after moving in—ended up measuring the light spill with a cheap lux meter just to prove a point. It’s wild how much light leaks through even with “dark sky” fixtures. Has anyone tried those smart bulbs that dim automatically at night? Wondering if they actually help or just add another thing to troubleshoot...
We had the same issue after moving in—ended up measuring the light spill with a cheap lux meter just to prove a point. It’s wild how much light leaks through even with “dark sky” fixtures.
Honestly, those smart bulbs that dim themselves sound more like a band-aid than a fix. If your neighbor’s blasting you with “dark sky” floods and it’s still lighting up your bedroom, the fixture’s probably pointed all wrong or just way too bright. I’d skip the techy bulbs and just talk to the neighbor—or worst case, install blackout curtains. Chasing after gadgets just adds headaches.
If your neighbor’s blasting you with “dark sky” floods and it’s still lighting up your bedroom, the fixture’s probably pointed all wrong or just way too bright.
I ran into something similar after a renovation next door. Even with “dark sky” labels, the angle was off and it lit up half my living room. What actually worked for me was walking over with a photo showing the glare inside my house. The neighbor was surprised and just tilted the fixture down a bit—problem solved. Blackout curtains help, but honestly, fixing the source is way less hassle in the long run.
Blackout curtains help, but honestly, fixing the source is way less hassle in the long run.
Couldn’t agree more—curtains are just a band-aid. I’ve seen “dark sky” fixtures misused all over the place. If the angle’s wrong or the bulb’s too powerful, it defeats the whole purpose. Honestly, manufacturers should include clearer install guides. I always recommend motion sensors too; no point lighting up the block all night if nobody’s outside. It’s wild how a small adjustment can make such a big difference.
