The city of Merritt is still working to keep sky glow, that orange haze seen before entering a major city, from becoming a problem.

Last November, a recommendation was made to the city to make some minor changes to lighting in and around Merritt as part of their light pollution abatement program.

The combined effect of light trespass, glare, and sky glow is the main source of light pollution according to Mark Eburne, chair of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. "If something is not done," said Eburne last November, “it could get out of hand.”

The light pollution occurs when sources of light are insufficiently shielded and tend to shine upwards or outwards at areas they are not intended to illuminate.

“People from all over the world come to Merritt because of the fantastic night skies,” said Fraser Valley Astronomical Society president Paul Greenhalgh during the meeting back in November.

“ I personally haven't had any further conversation with the City Council of Merritt,” said Greenhalgh. “With the incredible interest shown to us by the City, I am positive that they have put into action plans to reduce light pollution as best they can.”

“We have lighting style as part of our building code, which requires all new residential and commercial new buildings or significant renovations to install down cast lighting,” said Mayor Susan Roline.

“We are also encouraging residents and businesses to change over to the downcast as their existing lighting needs replacement," she continued. “The City also changes over to the downcast as our lights need replacing.”

Benefits from the abatement program include: saving energy through better focused lights, preserving the environment by reducing excess light that may effect flora and fauna, reducing crime and increasing safety by more adequately illuminating areas, and reducing health risks.

“It's going to be a slow process, of course, as the current infra-structure has taken years to create and will most likely take years to modify to the better systems, said Greenhalgh. “I don't expect the city to convert all the lights over to Full Cut Off optics immediately. That just wouldn't be financially feasible.”