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HARLESTON, W.Va. — As more people flee city lights for rural areas, West Virginia's dark skies are becoming a major draw. However, the creeping glow of artificial lighting is quietly eroding property values in these neighborhoods.

    Light pollution isn't just an environmental issue; it has tangible economic consequences. Ecosystems exposed to maximum levels of artificial light can lose up to 40% of their value. This degradation can influence buyers' willingness to pay for property, with real estate experts reporting that dark skies can add measurable premiums to homes.

    West Virginia holds a unique advantage due to the National Radio Quiet Zone around the Green Bank Observatory in Pocahontas County. Listings like "Twilight Cottage" emphasize little or no light pollution as a prime feature, attracting newcomers from cities like Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

    While few studies isolate light pollution as a standalone real estate variable, parallels from air-quality research suggest that less desirable environmental conditions significantly lower property values. Light pollution also affects human health, disrupting circadian rhythms and contributing to sleep disorders and chronic diseases.

    To mitigate this issue, West Virginia has legislative tools to protect dark skies. The state legislature passed House Bill 2995 in 1999 to minimize glare and preserve the nighttime visual environment. Experts recommend hooded or full-cutoff fixtures that prevent upward and sideways light spill, spectral controls to avoid blue-rich LEDs, and timed and motion-activated lighting.

    Local governments can adopt guidance requiring shielded fixtures, lower wattage, shorter hours of operation, and curfews for signage or sports-field lights. Designation of dark-sky preserves can encourage tourism and homeownership aligned with dark-sky values, enhancing economic development while preserving property values.

    Implementing dark-sky initiatives brings dual returns: protecting property values and energy savings through reduced lighting hours and efficient fixtures. The preservation of dark sky "ecosystem services" has quantifiable worth, and the decline in those services may indirectly depress local real estate appeal.

    For West Virginia to fully harness its dark-sky advantage, coordinated action is essential. Counties and towns should update their zoning and lighting codes to require full-cutoff, timer-driven lighting, particularly in sensitive zones surrounding observatories or tourist areas. Public education campaigns can raise awareness of how houses with shielded lighting sell better or attract higher offers from buyers seeking darkness.

    Buyers eyeing West Virginia properties can ask sellers about lighting fixtures and request a night-time walk-through to assess visible light trespass or stray glare. Sellers can upgrade to hooded, downward-pointing fixtures, install timers, and use warm-tone lamps, gathering documentation to market starry-sky potential as a unique home feature.

    Darkness is a valuable environmental and economic asset in West Virginia, with the proliferation of residents seeking refuge from bright cities mirroring a broader trend. However, with practical tools like hooded lighting, curfews, local ordinances, and community stewardship, darkness can be preserved and even marketed, offering both beauty and a financial edge.