I pursue my passion for Astronomy, particularly Astrophotography, on those fairly rare transparent nights in Central Ohio. The caramel glow of wasteful and inefficient outdoor lighting extends some 40 degrees into the sky in every direction around the horizon as seen from my Columbus backyard. The background on this page roughly approximates the appearance of the nighttime sky from my backyard. The lights shining into my property from my neighbors' houses is also a major nuisance. Heck, neighbors of the local amphitheater, a concert venue drawing all kinds of acts, who are residents of the City of Westerville, have complained for years about the noise from performances staged at the amphitheater.
Light pollution is equivalent to being subjected to loud noise on a continual basis.
Lately, the City of Columbus indicated that it would permit the City of Westerville to enforce its noise ordinances against the amphitheater. Westerville proposes to amend its ordinance to allow city officials to shut down a show if the noise level exceeds certain limits. With this much concern raised over noise pollution that affects a relatively minute number of people, it's surprising that the problems of light pollution fail to generate the same level of action. Inefficient outdoor lighting is not much different from noise pollution. It is a waste of energy and resources.