“Don't illuminate every mouse hole”: Wiesse's Green Municipal Council fights against light pollution

The shine of lights is something beautiful.

But too much artificial lighting damages the ecosystem, says the Wiesseer councilor Karl Schönbauer.

In an interview he explains what “light pollution” is all about.

Bad Wiessee

- especially when it gets dark early and the Advent season is slowly approaching, people are happy about a little shine of lights.

Too much artificial lighting around the house and garden has its pitfalls, says the Wiesseer Green Councilor Karl Schönbauer.

Keyword “light pollution”.

In the latest municipal bailout, the 71-year-old appeals to the residents of Wiesse to reconsider the number and intensity of their light sources - for the sake of the environment.

In the interview, Schönbauer explains why this is so important to him.

Mr. Schönbauer, you are asking the people of Wiesse to reduce their light sources.

Are you not indulging the citizens with their Christmas lights?

Karl Schönbauer:

But I'm sure I will treat the people of Wiessen to that.

Especially in the darker months of the year this has a positive effect on the psyche - you also have to think about the children, because it can be a few more lights than at normal times.

But the lighting does not necessarily have to be on all night, and entire house facades do not have to be illuminated.

The Christmas lights should be dismantled again in due course.

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The Wiesseer Green Councilor Karl Schönbauer has declared war on light pollution.

© Thomas Plettenberg

We are talking about "light pollution".

Could you maybe explain what that means?

Karl Schönbauer:

This means the brightening of the night sky by light sources operated by humans.

The term is perhaps a bit misleading because the light is actually not dirty.

But you just push back the natural darkness.

So much so that you can often no longer admire the starry sky in all its beauty.

But that's not the real problem, is it?

Karl Schönbauer:

No, the effects on ecosystems and the animal world are really fatal.

Take the hedgehog, for example.

He doesn't even know whether he's on the A8 or just walking through a brightly lit garden.

The actually energy-saving LED lights are counterproductive in this regard if they illuminate every mouse hole and illuminate every tree from below.

How exactly does this harm the animals?

Karl Schönbauer:

Around 30 percent of all vertebrates and 60 percent of invertebrates are nocturnal, including insects.

They fly against lights until they are dead on the ground.

Insects in particular are irreplaceable for the diversity of ecosystems, for the food chain in the animal world and for the pollination of our plants.

But diurnal animals and humans also need the night to rest.

So what can individual citizens do to counteract light pollution?

Karl Schönbauer:

Basically, it would be important to reduce the number and strength of the light sources and the duration of the lighting.

At times when nobody is in the garden, not all the lamperes have to be on fire.

Timers and motion detectors that also react to twilight are practical.

At a certain level of darkness, the lights switch on and off automatically.

So that the light sources do not become insect traps, warm white lamps with 1800 to a maximum of 3000 Kelvin should be used.

A year ago, on the initiative of your group, there was a resolution in the local council to counteract light pollution.

Are you satisfied with the way things have developed since then?

Karl Schönbauer:

It hasn't gotten any worse, but there is still room for improvement.

However, you always see small successes when you look around the neighborhood: The lights only stay on until 10 p.m., where they were previously on until 11 p.m.

In the case of advertising systems, care is now taken to ensure that they are no longer linked to the street lighting - so lighting systems can be switched off earlier separately.

Shop window lighting does not have to be on all night.

The community certainly has a role model function.

Karl Schönbauer:

Right.

Some streets have already been converted to warm white LED lighting.

However, you always have to check whether the technical requirements for LEDs are met.

You cannot simply change every lamp and replace it with another.

Our goal must be to only illuminate what really needs to be illuminated, using efficient and environmentally friendly light sources.

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