The Effects of Light Pollution in Hong Kong

183 Pages·2010·9.63 MB·English

The Effects of Light Pollution
in Hong Kong

Daniel Karol
Michael Ng
Marina Varlamova
Gregory Walls
5 March 2010

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Project number: AGK-1004
The Effects of Light Pollution in Hong Kong

AN INTERACTIVE QUALIFYING PROJECT REPORT
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
5 MARCH 2010

Sponsoring Agency:
Friends of the Earth Hong Kong
Submitted to:
Cheng Sze Ling, Officer/Project Liaison
Professor Andrew G. Klein, Advisor
Professor R. Creighton Peet, Co-Advisor

Respectfully Submitted by:

Daniel Karol

Michael Ng

Marina Varlamova

Gregory Walls
Abstract

The purpose of this project was to determine the perceived effects of light pollution on the residents of
Hong Kong and to develop a set of recommendations for our sponsor, Friends of the Earth Hong Kong,
to use in promoting better light pollution regulations. Through our fieldwork in Hong Kong and archival
research we determined the sources of light pollution, the effects it might have on the residents, and
ways to effectively reduce and manage excessive lighting in Hong Kong.

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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following people and institutions:
Our sponsoring agency, Friends of the Earth Hong Kong, for providing us with this research opportunity
and supporting us. Within this organization we would like to thank the following people:
Sze Ling Cheng, Catherine Lau and Hahn Chu our project liaisons at the Friends of the Earth Hong Kong.
We would like to especially thank Sze Ling Cheng, for her generous help in translating documents for us
and assisting our team with making connections amongst the business owners and government
officials.
We would also like to thank all of the people who consented to having us interview them. Although
they remain anonymous, special thanks to Ms. A, Ms. C, and Ms. Q.
We would like to thank all of the professors who were willing to talk to us as well. Professor Jason Pun
from Hong Kong University, Professor Reggie Kwan from Caritas Institute of Higher Education and
Professor Winnie Cheung from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. All contributed enormously to our
project by helping us obtain permission to survey on their campuses as well as providing technical and
background knowledge.
We would like to thank Mr. So-Chu Wing from the Hong Kong Space museum for his invaluable insight
into light pollution in Hong Kong.
We would like to thank our advisors from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Professor Creighton Peet
and Professor Andrew Klein, for their continual guidance and support throughout the project.
We would like to thank Michael Karol for helping revise our report.
We would like to thank the communities of Hong Kong that allowed us to survey them. We would also
like to thank the community centers that helped us conduct our survey.
We would like to thank Olympic Terrace Suites for providing us housing during our stay in Hong Kong.
Finally, we would like to thank Worcester Polytechnic Institute for the unique opportunity to travel and
work in Hong Kong.
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Authorship
This report was written with equal input by all team members to ensure that a full range of
ideas and contributions was achieved. Editing and revisions were done on each section by the entire
team. For each section, we have listed the original author(s):
Misc (Title, acknowledgements, etc.): Greg Walls
Abstract: Daniel Karol, Michael Ng, Greg Walls
Executive Summary: Michael Ng and Greg Walls
Introduction: Michael Ng and Greg Walls
Background: Michael Ng, Greg Walls, Daniel Karol, Marina Varlamova
Methodology: Michael Ng and Greg Walls
Results and Analysis: Daniel Karol, Michael Ng, Greg Walls
Conclusions and Recommendations: Daniel Karol, Greg Walls
Appendices: Daniel Karol, Michael Ng, Marina Varlamova, Greg Walls
Formatting: Michael Ng and Marina Varlamova

Additionally:
Data Analysis and Computation: Daniel Karol
Correspondence and Contact Point: Marina Varlamova
Photographic material: Daniel Karol

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Table of Contents
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ii
Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... iii
Authorship .................................................................................................................................................. iv
Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................... v
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ viii
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................... ix
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... x
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Background .......................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1. Light Pollution .............................................................................................................................. 4
2.1.1. Defining Light Pollution ......................................................................................................... 4
2.1.2. Measuring Light Pollution ..................................................................................................... 5
2.1.3. Classifying Light Pollution ..................................................................................................... 6
2.1.4. Lighting Technologies ........................................................................................................... 8
2.2. Studies on Light Pollution ........................................................................................................... 12
2.2.1. Light Pollution in a Global Context ..................................................................................... 12
2.2.2. Light Pollution Ordinances Overseas .................................................................................. 13
2.2.3. Physiological Effects of Light Pollution ............................................................................... 14
2.2.4. Psychological Effects of Light Pollution .............................................................................. 15
2.3. Light Pollution in Hong Kong ...................................................................................................... 15
2.3.1. Lighting Technologies in Hong Kong ................................................................................... 16
2.3.2. Friends of the Earth Hong Kong’s Plans for Light Pollution ................................................ 20
3. Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 21
3.1. Extent to Which Excessive Lighting is Perceived as a Problem .................................................. 21
3.1.1. Survey .................................................................................................................................. 21
3.1.2. Interviews ............................................................................................................................ 24
3.1.3. Field Observations .............................................................................................................. 25
3.2. Applicable Lighting Ordinances for Reducing Excessive Lighting in Hong Kong ........................ 26
4. Results and Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 27
4.1. Sources of Light Pollution in Hong Kong .................................................................................... 27
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4.1.1. Non-Advertisement Sources of Light Pollution .................................................................. 28
4.1.2. Advertisement Sources of Light Pollution .......................................................................... 29
4.2. Levels of Lighting in Hong Kong ................................................................................................. 34
4.2.1. Perceived Levels of Lighting ................................................................................................ 34
4.2.2. Desired Brightness Adjustment .......................................................................................... 35
4.2.3. Levels of Lighting by District ............................................................................................... 37
4.3. Perceived Effects of Excessive Lighting ...................................................................................... 38
4.3.1. Relocation consideration .................................................................................................... 43
4.3.2. Personal Accounts of Light Pollution .................................................................................. 44
4.4. Light Pollution Management Concepts ...................................................................................... 46
5. Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................................. 53
5.1. Extent to which light pollution is perceived as a problem in Hong Kong .................................. 53
5.2. Light Pollution Ordinance Recommendations for Hong Kong ................................................... 54
5.2.1. Civil Court for Light Pollution .............................................................................................. 54
5.2.2. Light Fixtures Shielded and Properly Directed ................................................................... 54
5.2.3. Timing Ordinance ................................................................................................................ 55
5.2.4. Exemptions to Light Pollution Ordinance ........................................................................... 55
5.2.5. Video Billboard Installation Permit ..................................................................................... 55
5.3. Recommendations for Further Research ................................................................................... 56
5.3.1. Determining Appropriate Levels of Lighting ....................................................................... 56
5.3.2. Business Advertising ........................................................................................................... 57
5.4. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 57
References ................................................................................................................................................ 58
Glossary ..................................................................................................................................................... 63
Appendix A. Friends of the Earth Hong Kong ...................................................................................... 65
A.1. Organizational Structure ............................................................................................................ 66
A.2. Funding and Resources ........................................................................................................... 67
A.3. Dim It Campaign ..................................................................................................................... 67
6.21 Lights-out event ......................................................................................................................... 67
A.4. Related Work .......................................................................................................................... 68
Appendix B. Interview Protocols and Survey Questionnaire .............................................................. 69
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B.1. Interview Protocol ...................................................................................................................... 69
B.2. Interview Protocol – Professor Jason Pun .............................................................................. 71
B.3. Interview Protocol – Ms. Q ..................................................................................................... 74
B.4. Survey Questionnaire (English) .............................................................................................. 76
B.5. Survey Questionnaire (Chinese) ............................................................................................. 78
Appendix C. Interview Transcripts and Notes ..................................................................................... 80
C.1. Transcript of Interview with MS. A: ........................................................................................... 80
C.2. Transcript of Interview with Jeanine Skorinko ....................................................................... 88
C.3. Transcript of Interview with Professor Jason Pun ................................................................ 103
Appendix D. Personal Accounts of Light Pollution ............................................................................ 111
D.1. Ms. A’s Case .............................................................................................................................. 111
D.2. Ms. M’s Case ......................................................................................................................... 114
D.3. Ms. Q’s Case.......................................................................................................................... 116
Appendix E. Residential Areas Surveyed ........................................................................................... 117
Appendix F. Senior Citizen Centers ................................................................................................... 118
Appendix G. List of Interviewees ....................................................................................................... 119
Appendix H. University Contacts ....................................................................................................... 120
Appendix I. Community Service Centers .......................................................................................... 121
Appendix J. Lighting Ordinances ....................................................................................................... 122
Appendix K. Lighting Ordinance Concepts ........................................................................................ 137
Condensed Light Pollution Ordinance Table ....................................................................................... 139
Appendix L. Field Observations Data Form ....................................................................................... 140
Appendix M. Field Observations Raw Data ........................................................................................ 141
Appendix N. Locations of Excessive Lighting Provided by FoE ......................................................... 144
Appendix O. Personal Data ................................................................................................................ 145
Appendix P. Data Distribution .......................................................................................................... 169

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List of Figures
Figure 2-1: Light Spill .................................................................................................................................. 8
Figure 2-2: LED microscope illumination ................................................................................................... 9
Figure 2-3: Video billboards Times Square, New York ............................................................................. 10
Figure 2-4: How LCDs Work ..................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 2-5: Concentration of highest light-polluted cities in the northeast of the US ............................. 13
Figure 2-6: Advertising signs spilling light onto residential buildings ....................................................... 16
Figure 2-7: Video billboards in Times Square .......................................................................................... 17
Figure 2-8: Video Billboard at Tsuen Wan ................................................................................................ 18
Figure 2-9: Close-up of LED advertisement .............................................................................................. 19
Figure 2-10: Neon lightings in Nathan Road, Hong Kong ......................................................................... 19
Figure 4-1: Perceived Sources of Light Pollution ...................................................................................... 28
Figure 4-2: Non-advertising sources of light pollution at Sham Shui Po .................................................. 28
Figure 4-3: Advertising lightings in Mong Kok .......................................................................................... 30
Figure 4-4: Spotlights at MongKok ............................................................................................................ 31
Figure 4-5: LukFook Jewelry Store non-flashing sign in Causeway Bay .................................................... 31
Figure 4-6: Tsui Wah Restaurant Sign ....................................................................................................... 32
Figure 4-7: Residential Apartment (left) Affected by LED Video Billboard (In red circle) ........................ 33
Figure 4-8: Perceived (left) and desired (right) levels of light .................................................................. 35
Figure 4-9: Desired Brightness Adjustment .............................................................................................. 36
Figure 4-10: Distribution of the DBA......................................................................................................... 37
Figure 4-11: Perceived severity of lighting ............................................................................................... 39
Figure 4-12: Mean intensity of tested symptoms ..................................................................................... 39
Figure 4-13: Visual fatigue symptom data ................................................................................................ 40
Figure 4-14: Weariness symptom data ..................................................................................................... 41
Figure 4-15: Sleep loss symptom data………………………………………………………………………………………………….41
Figure 4-16: Anxiety symptom data .......................................................................................................... 42
Figure 4-17: Depression symptom intensity ............................................................................................. 43
Figure 4-18: Relocation consideration as a function of DBA .................................................................... 44
Figure 4-19: AIA Building in Central .......................................................................................................... 44
Figure 4-20: Lights outside Ms. M's window ............................................................................................ 45
Figure 4-21 : Properly shielded lighting fixture ........................................................................................ 48
Figure A-1: FoE Organizational Structure ................................................................................................. 66
Figure A-2: (FoE, 2008, Annual Report) .................................................................................................... 66
Figure D-1: We Are Asia sign at Victoria Peak ........................................................................................ 112
Figure D-2: Excessive lighting outside Ms M’s window .......................................................................... 115
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List of Tables
Table 2-1: Typical outdoor lux levels .......................................................................................................... 6
Table 4-1: Average DBA throughout Hong Kong ...................................................................................... 38
Table J-1 – United States Lighting Regulations ....................................................................................... 122
Table J-2 - European Lighting Regulations .............................................................................................. 133

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