Start at home

Preserving our dark starry skies isn’t about turning the lights off; it’s about using the correct amount of light, properly targeted and only on at the right times.

Assess the lighting around your house.

The first step to tackling light pollution is simple: look at the lights in and around your house. Ask yourself: are they all necessary? Are they too bright, left on too long, or shining where they don’t need to? Small changes here can make a big difference, both for your energy use and for protecting the night sky.

Your quick step-by-step checklist:

  1. Check necessity – Do all your outdoor lights really need to be on? Switch off any that aren’t essential.
  2. Look at direction – Point lights downwards, never upwards, or sideways into your neighbour’s windows or the sky.
  3. Reduce brightness – Use the lowest brightness needed to safely light an area.
  4. Control usage – Add timers or motion sensors so lights only switch on when needed.
  5. Close curtains – Stop indoor light escaping by drawing blinds or curtains after dark.

Visit our Outdoor Lighting Basics page to learn what to look for and explore recommended fixtures here.

a before and after picture showing how bad lighting can be improved using IDA guidelines
Photo by Richard O’Brien.

View More Before & After Images »

Chat With Your Friends, Family & Neighbours

Solving local light pollution issues is as simple as chatting with your neighbours. Use some of our resources like our General Brochure, “Losing the Dark Film” or Mobile Apps to help spread the word.

Join DarkSky Association’s Advocate Network »

DarkSky’s Advocate Network is a global community united in its efforts to protect the night from light pollution.  Check out the work of some of our advocates and see a map of advocates around the world.

Donate »

Help fund our mission and make a donation. You can donate securely online and/or become a member paying a monthly donation in exchange for premium content and resources – it all goes towards the fight against light pollution.

Visit an International Dark Sky Place »

There is probably a dark sky park, reserve or community near you so why not Find a Dark Sky Place you can easily visit?