Outdoor Lighting and Crime - Amper

One further problem needs to be raised. In the case of coal-fired power stations, efficient
operation requires maintenance of a substantial minimum load throughout the 24 hours. The
base load condition occurs when demand is lowest, typically at night. 89 Lighting is a
substantial part of the load at night. If outdoor lighting is greatly reduced for environmental
and social reasons, the costs of electricity from coal-burning plant will necessarily rise. There
are solutions, but they require system-wide approaches for best prospects of success.
Likewise, reducing lighting to deal with the crime problem may generate unforeseen problems
unless the approach is sufficiently broad. This is another reason for the attention given in this
work to the environmental issues of excessive artificial light at night.
6.3 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Ploetz (2002) is a comprehensive examination of the inadequacies of the common law and
state and local regulation in dealing with light pollution in the USA. Ploetz mentioned the
widespread use of the term ‘light trespass’ but concluded that the associated light nuisance is
of greater importance as a legal consideration. Regardless, it seems that far too many
reasonable cases of light nuisance brought to courts have failed because defendants have been
able to take advantage of legal shortcomings and technicalities. The problem has arisen
largely because of the absence of US federal legislation, coupled with inadequate attention by
authorities to the growing social and environmental issues involved. The situation is
reminiscent in some ways to the problem of noise pollution, which was for a while apparently
being dealt with reasonably at the US federal level until this initiative became a target for
cost-cutting by the Reagan administration. A repetition in the case of light pollution is
something to be avoided. Regardless, Ploetz concluded that there is a good case for federal
funding of research and education on excessive lighting and lighting waste. Whether this
approach could adequately take the place of overarching legislation seems problematical,
however. It would appear to be more of a preliminary step to federal legislation, which might
take considerable time to achieve in the normal course of events.
The issues might now be reconsidered from the viewpoint that the present work not only adds
to the substantial case for legislation to limit levels of lighting and lighting waste, but also that
the need is pressing. It is not just an issue for the USA, either. A similar vacuum exists in
Australian federal and state law, and doubtless many other countries (eg McManus 2001)
likewise have a need for positive action to adapt national and regional law to deal properly
with the problems raised by the increasingly rapid growth of outdoor lighting. Jewkes (1998)
and CPRE (2003) provide valuable information on the legal and planning issues of obtrusive
lighting in the UK, and the need for improvements.
The town law of Amherst, NY is quoted in Section 3.2.6 above as an example that might
usefully be followed by other towns and cities. Many of those working towards national and
regional laws in Europe likewise cite the relevant law of Lombardy in Italy as an excellent
example to follow (eg Bonata 2002). The present work may justify increasing the stringency
of these laws.
89 Excess generating capacity at night is not a problem in Croatia so the national electrical
company is interested in the energy savings that can result from light pollution control
(Korlevic 2002).
102