Light energy loss estimated at over Lm70,000 annually

The Light Pollution Awareness Group has praised the initiative taken by the Malta Labour Party to tackle the issue of light pollution in its updated environmental policy.

The energy chapter in fact deals with light pollution, emphasising the waste of energy from many existing outdoor lighting installations.

It then goes on to mention that schemes will be introduced which will encourage the use of renewable energy sources, as well as initiatives cutting down on light pollution and encouraging a better design of exterior lighting installations.

"This would provide more effective lighting while saveguarding the environment and preserving the beauty of the night sky above," the group said.

The group encouraged the other political parties to introduce similar proposals in their environmental policy documents. The group offers its help also to local councils and other entities wishing to have effective lighting at night without the adverse effects of glare, energy waste and other forms of light pollution.

Light energy loss for the Maltese islands has been measured from space and costs over Lm70,000 each year.

The group again appealed to Enemalta and local councils to install only full cut-off streetlighting in all new and replacement installations.

The group is a local section of the International Dark-Sky Association, formed through the Astronomical Society of Malta.