It has happened to almost all of us: a neighbor installs lights that spill onto our property and even inside our home.

This is called light trespass, and most of the time, our neighbor does not have any malicious intent. Perhaps they want to beautify their property, or they have a safety concern. 

How can you deal with this situation? Below are a few tips to start:

• Make friends, not enemies. Your neighbors probably don’t even realize their lighting is bothersome.
• Stay positive and don’t argue. Be tactful and understanding about your neighbor’s right to light their property.
• Talking to your neighbor is a great opportunity to be an advocate for good lighting. Get and share information about dark sky communities in the world and their importance, about the costs of electricity and how to save, as well as tips on good lighting to ensure safety from potential criminals.
• Suggest alternatives to their current fixture. Ask them to move the light, shield it, or add a motion sensor, so it’s activated only when needed. Offer to help get this done.

For more information and details on this subject, click here to visit the Dark Sky International website.