Helena Joyce
Light pollution is a pressing issue that has harmful effects on wildlife, ecosystems, energy consumption, and human health. It is caused by artificial lighting that alters natural light levels outdoors at night. While it may seem like a daunting task, there are several simple ways to reduce light pollution at home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Turn off lights | When not in use, before sleep, and when leaving the room |
| Use fewer lights | Only use the light that is absolutely necessary |
| Keep blinds and drapes closed | At night, to prevent light from escaping |
| Avoid driving at night | To reduce light pollution and for safety |
| Use dimmable light bulbs | To control the intensity of light emitted |
| Choose warmer colours | For light bulbs, avoid blue light |
| Shield external lights | To prevent light from escaping skyward |
| Use smart lighting controls | To manage how much light is used |
| Keep lights close to the ground | To avoid light spilling outside the specific area intended to be lit |
| Use the lowest intensity lighting | Consider the intensity of light produced (lumens) rather than energy required (watts) |
| Use non-reflective, dark-coloured surfaces | To reduce contribution to sky glow |
| Use lights with reduced or filtered blue, violet and ultra-violet wavelengths | To avoid disrupting wildlife sleep and interfering with circadian rhythms |
What You'll Learn
Turn off lights when not in use
Turning off lights when not in use is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce light pollution. This applies to indoor and outdoor lighting.
Indoor Lighting
Leaving a room? Turn off the light. It's a simple habit that can make a big difference in reducing light pollution. Not only does it lessen the overall light pollution, but it also reduces your energy costs at home. So, if you've grown out of this habit, now is a great time to restart it!
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting is a major contributor to light pollution. Veranda or porch lights, for example, should only be turned on when needed, such as when you're searching for your keys, and then turned off when not in use. This small change can make a big difference in reducing light pollution and its impact on wildlife.
Unnecessary Indoor Lighting
Unnecessary indoor lighting, especially in empty office buildings at night, should be turned off. This will help prevent the leakage of interior light into the night sky, reducing light pollution and its negative effects on wildlife and the environment.
Motion Sensors and Timers
Using motion sensors and timers is a great way to ensure lights are only on when needed. Motion sensors will activate lights when motion is detected, and timers can be set to turn lights on and off at specific times. These tools can help reduce overall light pollution and your energy consumption.
Light Shields
Installing light shields on outdoor lighting fixtures can help direct light downward, reducing sky glow and minimizing light pollution. This simple addition can make a significant impact, allowing you to use less powerful lamps while still achieving the same amount of light where it is needed.
By turning off lights when not in use and implementing these other strategies, you can play a crucial role in reducing light pollution and its negative impacts on the environment and wildlife.
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Minimise indoor lighting
Minimising indoor lighting is a key way to reduce light pollution at home. The first step is to use natural darkness as the default setting. Only turn on lights when they are needed for a specific purpose, and then only for the necessary period.
For example, it's okay to turn on the veranda light to find your keys, but there's no need to keep it on all night. Similarly, indoor lighting should be turned off before you go to sleep. If you are the last person to leave the office, make sure all the lights are off.
The next step is to use smart lighting controls. Invest in smart controls and LED technology so you can remotely manage your lights, set timers or dimmers, activate motion sensor lighting, and even control the colour of the light emitted. These smart controls should be used to activate artificial light at night only when needed, and to minimise light when not needed.
Use the lowest intensity lighting. When deciding how much light you need, consider the intensity of the light produced (lumens), rather than the energy required to make it (watts). LEDs are energy efficient, but because of this, they produce between two and five times as much light as incandescent bulbs for the same amount of energy. So, while LED lights save energy, the increased intensity of the light can lead to greater impacts on wildlife if not managed properly.
Use non-reflective, dark-coloured surfaces. Sky glow has been shown to mask lunar light rhythms, confusing wildlife such as birds and insects. Light-coloured and shiny surfaces reflect light and contribute to sky glow, so choosing darker-coloured paint or materials for outdoor features will help reduce light pollution.
Finally, use lights with reduced or filtered blue, violet and ultra-violet wavelengths. Most animals are sensitive to short-wavelength light, which creates blue and violet colours. These short wavelengths are known to suppress melatonin production, which is known to disrupt sleep and interfere with circadian rhythms in many animals, including humans. Choosing lighting options with little or no short-wavelength violet or blue light will help to avoid unintended harmful effects on wildlife.
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Use motion sensors
Using motion sensors is a great way to reduce light pollution at home. Motion sensors ensure that lights are only turned on when they are needed, reducing the amount of light pollution caused by unnecessary lighting. This is especially useful for security lights, which can otherwise be left on all night.
Motion sensors are also a great way to save money on your energy bill. By only turning on when motion is detected, they reduce the amount of electricity used. This makes them a more cost-effective option than keeping lights on all night or using a timer.
When installing motion sensors, it is important to ensure that they are set up correctly. They should be positioned so that they only detect motion in the desired area, and the sensitivity should be adjusted to avoid being triggered by small animals or insects. It is also important to consider the range of the sensor, as you will want to ensure that it covers the desired area.
In addition to motion sensors, there are a few other ways to reduce light pollution at home. These include using dimmable light bulbs, choosing warmer-coloured bulbs, and shielding external lights to direct the beam towards the ground. By implementing these measures, you can help reduce light pollution and its negative impacts on the environment and human health.
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Install light shields
Light shields are an effective way to reduce light pollution from your home. Light shields are recommended for any outdoor lighting installations. They are a simple yet powerful tool to direct light only where it is needed, minimising light pollution and its harmful effects.
Light shields work by blocking light from spilling upwards and escaping skyward. This is important because light spilling upwards contributes to artificial sky glow – the bright glow you see over urban areas, caused by a cumulative array of lights. This sky glow not only spoils the natural beauty of the night sky but also spills into neighbouring areas, disrupting wildlife.
By installing light shields, you can redirect the beam towards the ground, ensuring that the light is focused only on the specific target area where it is required. This also allows you to use lamps that consume less power to provide the same amount of light where it is needed.
Light shields are a great way to ensure that you are using light responsibly and reducing your impact on the environment. They are a simple yet effective tool to reduce light pollution from your home, helping to preserve the beauty of the night sky and protect wildlife.
You can find light shields and shielded light fixtures from many retailers and manufacturers. Dark Sky International, for example, certifies lighting products, designs, and installations that reduce light pollution. Their searchable database makes it easy to find fully shielded light fixtures.
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Choose warm-coloured bulbs
Choosing warm-coloured bulbs is an important step in reducing light pollution. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) recommends that only warm-toned light sources be used for outdoor lighting. Warm-coloured bulbs include Low-pressure Sodium (LPS), High-pressure Sodium (HPS), and low-colour-temperature LEDs.
The colour temperature of a lamp is measured in Kelvin. Bulbs with a temperature of 3000 Kelvin or lower are considered warm-toned. These bulbs emit a yellow or amber light, which is similar to the light produced by the setting sun. Warmer colours are more suited to our body's natural circadian rhythm. This is why the "night mode" on smartphones uses warmer colours.
In contrast, bright and blue "daylight" tones have temperatures exceeding 6000 Kelvin. These bulbs emit a cooler light and are more similar to the light produced by the sun during the day. While this light is great for energy and productivity during the day, it can be disruptive to humans and wildlife at night. Blue-rich white light sources increase glare and compromise human vision, especially as we age. They can also adversely affect wildlife behaviour and reproduction, particularly in cities, which are often stopover points for migratory species.
By choosing warm-coloured bulbs, you can help reduce the negative impacts of artificial lighting on humans and wildlife. This simple switch can make a significant difference in reducing light pollution and its effects on the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to reduce light pollution from your home. You can turn off lights when not in use, use fewer lights when inside, and keep blinds and drapes closed at night.
It is recommended to use dimmable light bulbs with warmer or yellower tones. These are more suited to our circadian rhythm. Avoid bright and blue "daylight" tones that have temperatures exceeding 6,000 degrees Kelvin. Instead, opt for bulbs with temperatures lower than 3,000 Kelvin.
You can avoid driving at night, use motion sensors and timers for lights, and point lights towards the ground when using flashlights or headlights outside.
