Reducing Night Light Pollution (6A)

11 years ago

For the first time, we're using the glass greenhouse which is attached to the side of our home to start seedlings and to grow tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers and cucumbers inside, as well as to start annuals and perrenials. We've outfitted it with 4 quad 48" fluorescent HO T5s. We abut a 100 acre wood, but have two other neighbors in the same general area.

Lights are on a timer to go on at 5:30 am and off at 9:30 PM, but there's quite a significant glow visible from the front of the house (neighbor 1's kids say it's a little creepy), and I'm sure a huge amount of light visible to the side (back of neighbor 2's house). I've given the latter a heads up and she's excited about the produce I've offered her, but I know it must be off-putting and she likes to star gaze.

Are there films we can apply to the glass, to minimize the night light pollution? Thanks in advance.

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Comments (5)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Your best bet is to turn the lights off. Mounted up that high they aren't doing any good. If they are to help they need to be inches from the plants.

There are alternatives if closer to the plants. Just run at night and cover everything so no light escapes. But that involves attention morning and night. Or just run by day when light won't offend.

I don't think you'll find a film that limits light out at night without limiting light in by day. And since lights are too far from plants it's a total loss to limit daytime light.

Sorry just my opinion.
oldbat2be
Original Author
11 years ago
Lights are actually inches above. I think you're looking at the overheads:)
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wyndyacre
11 years ago
What a lovely setup and attached right to your home too! Nice.

I would suggest that your seedlings don't really NEED any more hours of light then they would normally get from nature. Sixteen hours is a bit of an overkill. It wouldn't hurt them in the least to reduce the hours your growlights are on, keeping you on better terms with your neighbours and also reducing your electric bill. :-)

I would suggest 0800-1800 hrs.
oldbat2be
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you both for the replies. If the seedlings don't need the extra light, then the idea of reducing the hours is perfect. (I'm feeling foolish for not thinking of this first).
wyndyacre
11 years ago
Are those photos taken recently? Do you still have that much snow?!

Normally, growlights are used indoors where there is no natural sunlight to grow your seedlings or plants in. A greenhouse generally has lots of natural sunlight, so no lights needed...

But I see that your greenhouse is pretty shaded by trees, even when there are no leaves on the branches....the extra light from the growlights will help prevent the seedlings and young plants from "stretching" for more light. Stretching makes for weak, spindly plants that later don't take well to being planted outdoors without a lot of hardening off and mollycoddling.

So, the growlights will do them some good.

I would LOVE to have a little greenhouse like yours, attached to my house. Nice venting in the ridgeline too. Jealous. :-)