City Dark

So this week, our assignment was to think about and reflect on the lighting in our lives. I know that I do NOT like overhead lights. I prefer lamps always, but some people who live in my house with me will turn on the overheads instead...yuck. I also used to not enjoy LED light bulbs because I am prone to migraines, but I found a great one from IKEA and I will never buy a different one again! I also love candlelight. It puts me into a comfort zone that nothing else can, and the soft light is always so nice for my light-sensitive eyes. Sunsets always make me happy, but the harsh bright light of a sunset does hurt my eyes, and stresses me out in the winter. I think this is because I know my day is coming to a close, and I still have so much to do. This is not the case in the summertime, I love the sunset! Moonlight is always beautiful to me. I love when the moon can light up the entire park when I'm in Park City lying on my back stargazing; there is nothing better in the world.

I've decided, after watching the movie City Dark, that I do not like street lights, or excessive city lights for that matter. We need to come up with a type of light that shines light downward instead of up into the sky to cause light pollution. We learned that light pollution does not only affect our species, and results ultimately in death for others. Whether it is disorientation or distraction, the light is detrimental to the health of earth's organisms and there is a way to stop this from happening. We can make the light art by changing the colors that are typically used into softer ones, and we can put shades on the lamps to cast the light down. I would love to get solar-powered lights and also lights that shine downward all around the city. I want Salt Lake to be more energy efficient and I think this is a wonderful step towards that.