Greener Glenview: Light Pollution Has Negative Impact on Daily Life

Join Greener Glenview for “Hidden in Plain Sight: How Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) Impacts the Environment and Human Health” on Monday, April 10 @ 7 PM in the Community Room West, Glenview Public Library. This program will showcase scientific research focusing on the impact of artificial light on the natural world and human health. The presenter, Robert Sullivan, is a former Argonne National Laboratory environmental scientist with 30 years of experience on this topic.

The electric lightbulb is one of the world’s greatest inventions. It has brought countless benefits to people around the world and enabled humans to stretch their activities into the night. However, there is a dark side to too much artificial light at night: light pollution.

We are living in an environment with the excessive or inappropriate use of artificial outdoor light. You may not recognize its ever-increasing levels because you have grown accustomed to it. Unless you’re a stargazer, you may not even be aware of it. It is unlikely that you realize how artificial light in the evening can affect your health and harm the environment. Scientists are increasingly raising awareness of the impacts of this non-traditional “pollutant”.

Over the past year, there have been at least six major and minor development proposals in Glenview that would alter our built environment. Local residents have raised concerns about how each development’s artificial lights would impact their lives and the environment.

Sheri Latash, co-founder of Greener Glenview said, “Village commissions evaluate lighting during their review of new and expanded business developments, in accordance with design guidelines and ordinances. Currently, there is no requirement to consider the wide-ranging effects of ALAN on the environment and human health as part of that evaluation. We hope that information presented in this program will factor into future decision-making related to night-time lighting.”

“Hidden in Plain Sight: How Artificial Light Impacts the Environment and Human Health” is the first of a three-part series funded by a 2023 Judy Beck Grant. The other two programs, to be presented over the summer, will focus on the impacts of noise and traffic.

Learn more about Greener Glenview.