Results: Light Trespass
The local power company is promoting Outdoor Lighting for residential customers in order to make more money. They are promoting the biggest most expensive light fixtures to buy and maintain and they are taking little thought in how this impacts the neighboring properties. Our neighbors (who are working on their trailer about once every two weeks, but do not actually live there) installed the brightest commercial parking lot light on their property this week. It was sold to them by the local power company. (The power company confirmed it was a commercial grade light.) So now the light illuminates more of our property than it does theirs, This light shines directly into our windows about 12 hours a day and everyone's opinion is that we should just live with it.
1.
1.
Have you ever had to suffer from light trespass? Light Trespass is when spill light is cast where it is not wanted. An example: Your neighbor installs a spotlight that spills directly into your bedroom window making it feel like daytime 24 hours a day. Yes
24%
•
500 votes
No
58%
•
1196 votes
Undecided
7%
•
136 votes
Not Applicable
11%
•
236 votes
2.
2.
Did you know that spill light can be well controlled by adding an inexpensive shade to an outdoor security light so that light is directed on the ground on the property with the light? This gives the property owner light without disturbing neighbors. Yes
22%
•
453 votes
No
52%
•
1080 votes
Undecided
8%
•
166 votes
Not Applicable
18%
•
369 votes
3.
3.
Do you think a utility company that sells and promotes outdoor lighting to residential customers should evaluate the property and sell appropriate lighting? (Should avoid selling expensive, intrusive, energy-wasting commercial lighting with no shading to residential customers?) Yes
51%
•
1062 votes
No
14%
•
291 votes
Undecided
18%
•
371 votes
Not Applicable
17%
•
344 votes
4.
4.
Do you think it is unreasonable for a neighbor disturbed by spill light to request a shade be put on the commercial light fixture, especially if the neighbor is willing to pay for the shade? Yes
16%
•
335 votes
No
54%
•
1122 votes
Undecided
13%
•
262 votes
Not Applicable
17%
•
349 votes
5.
5.
What do you think is a good solution to the problem if the utility company and customer say just live with the situation and we don't care that your house is being flooded with light 24/7? Just live with it. Your neighbor has a right to light up everyone's yard if it makes him/her feel safer.
12%
•
245 votes
Keep asking the neighbor and power company to put a shade on the light.
35%
•
732 votes
Campaign in your community for an ordinance that prohibits light trespass.
25%
•
514 votes
Move, if you can. Your property may be worth a lot less now that you have spotlights coming in your windows at night.
6%
•
117 votes
Sue the neighbor.
4%
•
90 votes
Sue the power company.
4%
•
87 votes
Sue the neighbor and the power company.
9%
•
184 votes
Other (please specify)
4%
•
82 votes
Not Applicable
28%
•
586 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.59% | 12 | |
| Shoot it out with a bee bee gun | 0.05% | 1 |
| buy a darkening shade for your bedroom window | 0.05% | 1 |
| Pray hard | 0.05% | 1 |
| shoot the light out | 0.05% | 1 |
| solve the problem from inside like covering the windows.... | 0.05% | 1 |
| PUT ONE FACING HIM OR HER.....AHHHH THE DELIGHT ! | 0.05% | 1 |
| pay for the shade and installation if feasible | 0.05% | 1 |
| Shoot the light out !! | 0.05% | 1 |
| instalo blackout shades in my house | 0.05% | 1 |
| CHECK WITH THE ZONING COMMISION | 0.05% | 1 |
| Get a mirror, mount it on the outside of your house right in the line of the light so that all the light is pointing back at the neighbor.... | 0.05% | 1 |
| neighbors are nothing but trouble | 0.05% | 1 |
| Put up multiple flood lights that shine on the neighbors property | 0.05% | 1 |
| this sounds so awful. i dont know what i would do. | 0.05% | 1 |
| hang a big mirror outside the window the light goes in, so it will reflect back to them | 0.05% | 1 |
| Shoot it out | 0.05% | 1 |
| shoot out the light | 0.05% | 1 |
| work with all parties to reach a solution that everyone can live with | 0.05% | 1 |
| Put up your own commercial outdoor light, and shine it directly into THEIR windows. Maybe they'll put a shade on their light then! | 0.05% | 1 |
| get good blinds or curtains | 0.05% | 1 |
| Well-lit areas deter crime, so stop whining and instead be grateful. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Buy dark curtains that you can hang up above your regular curtains, and tie them to the side of the window when you want to let light in. | 0.05% | 1 |
| by law enforcement | 0.05% | 1 |
| get blackout drapes | 0.05% | 1 |
| put up a black out curtain | 0.05% | 1 |
| Sue as last resort | 0.05% | 1 |
| Shoot out the light with a BB gun. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Try using words. | 0.05% | 1 |
| take a vote by neighborhood to see if they agree or disagree with and see what other options you can come up with. | 0.05% | 1 |
| shhot out the light | 0.05% | 1 |
| but a light up to shine in they window, if all else fail take out the light | 0.05% | 1 |
| put a shade on your windows or darkening curtains | 0.05% | 1 |
| shoot the light out, repeatedly | 0.05% | 1 |
| Buy Room darkening curtains. We did and they work great. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Get legal advice, then move forward | 0.05% | 1 |
| Buy blackout curtains | 0.05% | 1 |
| break the light | 0.05% | 1 |
| Put up heavy dark curtains or blinds and outdoor shades | 0.05% | 1 |
| buy curtains | 0.05% | 1 |
| We have an ordinance in the U.S. | 0.05% | 1 |
| continuously shoot the bulbs out with a bb or pellet gun | 0.05% | 1 |
| Room darkening shades with cardboard worked for me. | 0.05% | 1 |
| they can do what they want on their property but if it's a problem for you and they won't work with you then shoot it out when no one is around and take care not to get caught | 0.05% | 1 |
| keep shooting the light out! | 0.05% | 1 |
| talk with neighbor | 0.05% | 1 |
| Get window blinds. Idiot. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Get light proof blinds for your windows if your neighbour won't put a shade on their light | 0.05% | 1 |
| complain to your Strata Council | 0.05% | 1 |
| Put up good blinds in your windows | 0.05% | 1 |
| Get some room darkening shades | 0.05% | 1 |
| use a blackout shade on the window | 0.05% | 1 |
| Put political pressure on local government | 0.05% | 1 |
| speak directly to the neighbor or send letter | 0.05% | 1 |
| I would appreciate light on my property. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Call the police. Disturbances are against the law | 0.05% | 1 |
| Bought black window panels | 0.05% | 1 |
| get light blocking curtains | 0.05% | 1 |
| shoot light out with BB gun | 0.05% | 1 |
| room darkening shades & curtains! | 0.05% | 1 |
| Talk to your local police department or "code enforcement officer." | 0.05% | 1 |
| if its such a minimal cost, purchase the shade for them. you would be surprised how many peopple simply dont want to take the time or effort to do that one simple thing. or petition the power company to include the shade with each light package. | 0.05% | 1 |
| get full cover blinds for you house or get over it.... | 0.05% | 1 |
| Get blackout curtains | 0.05% | 1 |
| In a kind way ask the neighbor to put a shade on it. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Put a blind on the window | 0.05% | 1 |
| use blinds or light-blocking curtains | 0.05% | 1 |
| call the local council | 0.05% | 1 |
| have an attorney write a letter to the neighbor and power company | 0.05% | 1 |
| talk to the neighbor | 0.05% | 1 |
| Buy a black shade or curtains that block light | 0.05% | 1 |
6.
6.
Do you agree that you and your neighbor have a right to "peaceful enjoyment of property" and that both should work to promote that? Yes
69%
•
1422 votes
No
7%
•
138 votes
Undecided
7%
•
145 votes
Not Applicable
18%
•
363 votes
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