We object to the uplighting at 13696 100 Avenue, Surrey, BC, Canada. The uplighting is polluting to the night sky, detrimental to nocturnal species and harmful to human health. Currently, the coloured lights point straight up towards the sky and are turned on 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. (update: the lights are now required by the City of Surrey to be turned off 11pm-8am). We ask that the lights be turned off immediately and indefinitely.

We have 3 main areas of concern:

1. Human Health

Studies have shown that exposure to artificial light at night is damaging to human health. Living in an area with light pollution disrupts our circadian rhythms, and is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, depression, reduced immunity, and sleep deprivation. It also results in delayed bedtime and wake up time, shorter sleep duration and increased daytime sleepiness, which is a threat to human safety during the day. Constant exposure to bright light at night can also accelerate vision degeneration. Overall, quality of life is decreased for people living in areas with light pollution.

2. Native Animal Behaviour

Light pollution is also harmful to nocturnal animals. It affects normal circadian behaviour, reproduction, and predator-prey interactions. Many species can no longer survive in our cities because light pollution has taken away their dark sky habitat and driven out the smaller animals that they normally eat.

3. Safety

However, light is a necessary human tool for safety and navigation at night. Well designed lighting should be aimed down towards the ground to get more of the light where we need it to navigate and to see potential threats. Aiming light into the sky does not aid with any human nighttime functions, and can in fact increase glare and decrease visibility for people navigating around it.

Considering the negative effects to the night sky, nocturnal animals, and human health, we ask that the lights at 13696 100 Avenue, Surrey, BC be turned off immediately and indefinitely.

We hope that this case will serve as a first step in establishing bylaw regulation for light pollution in Surrey.

To learn more about light pollution, check out the International Dark Sky Association's website: http://www.darksky.org/