Artificial lighting is the source and cause of light pollution in the sky. It’s estimated that 99 out of 100 people in the continental United States never see a truly dark night sky. More than two-thirds of Americans never see the Milky Way. Two-fifths of our population live in places where the sky is so heavily illuminated, their eyes never become adapted to night vision.

The United States could save one billion dollars a year by switching to more efficient bulbs and downward-directed lighting. It would considerably cut down on light pollution and Americans would have a better view of the night sky.