Bronte Wells
Light pollution is a pressing issue that affects human health, wildlife behaviour, and our ability to observe the night sky. It is caused by the excessive or inappropriate use of outdoor artificial light, which can have detrimental impacts on ecosystems, human health, and astronomical observations. To combat this issue, it is crucial to choose the right type of lighting and install it properly. Proper lighting should minimize glare, direct light downwards, and provide only the necessary amount of illumination. Organizations like DarkSky International and the International Dark Sky Association offer guidance and certification for environmentally friendly lighting products that reduce light pollution. Additionally, modifying the position of light sources and using shielded fixtures can help diminish their polluting effects on the night sky.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of light | Low-pressure sodium lamps, red light sources, or yellow and red lights |
| Light direction | Downwards, not upwards |
| Light level | Minimum level of illumination, not excessive |
| Light positioning | 2.5 times the height of the mounting |
| Shielding | Fully shielded fixtures |
| Light distribution | Even distribution, not clustered |
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What You'll Learn
Dark-Sky approved lights
Light pollution has a detrimental impact on wildlife, human health, and ecosystem functions. It can cause issues such as increased headaches, worker fatigue, stress, and anxiety in humans. In animals, it can disrupt melatonin production, cause developmental irregularities, and disorient migrating birds. Even a single light can be disruptive to the natural lightscape, causing a glow across the field of view and reducing contrast.
To combat this, Dark-Sky International offers the DarkSky Approved program, which provides third-party certification for products, designs, and projects that minimize glare, reduce light trespass, and don't pollute the night sky. This includes lighting fixtures, path lighting, street lighting, and controllers. The program offers guidance to municipalities, lighting designers, and citizens on best practices to reduce light pollution.
Dark-sky-friendly lighting is designed to minimize the harmful effects of light pollution on humans, wildlife, and the climate. When choosing outdoor lighting, it is important to consider the height and spacing of the lights to minimize their impact on the night sky. Low-level bollard lighting, for example, can illuminate a path or footway while directing light downwards.
The DarkSky Approved Luminaires program certifies lighting fixtures that protect the night sky. Their database includes products for streetlights, path lighting, residential, and commercial solutions. DarkSky also works with communities to establish codes and statutes that reduce light pollution and advocates for local legislation to address the issue.
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Low-level bollard lighting
Bollard lighting is a type of pathway or street lighting that is designed to provide illumination at ground level, typically mounted on short posts or embedded in the ground. Unlike traditional street lights that emit light from tall poles, bollard lights are low-level fixtures that direct light downwards, creating a pool of light around them.
Additionally, bollard lights can be fitted with shielded or cut-off fixtures, further reducing glare and light spill. These fixtures are designed to block light from escaping above the horizontal plane, ensuring that light is projected only where it is needed. This not only minimizes light pollution but also improves the overall lighting effect, creating a more aesthetically pleasing environment.
The use of energy-efficient LED lamps in bollard lights further enhances their light pollution-reducing capabilities. LED lights can be directed more precisely, reducing the amount of wasted light. They also offer greater control over light distribution, allowing for customizable lighting designs that minimize light trespass and sky glow.
In areas where lighting is required for safety or aesthetic reasons, low-level bollard lighting can be an effective solution to minimize light pollution. By carefully considering the lighting design, fixture selection, and lamp technology, bollard lights can provide sufficient illumination while preserving the darkness above and minimizing the impact on the natural environment and nocturnal ecosystems.
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Red light sources
Light pollution is the presence of any unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive artificial lighting. It has been estimated that 83% of the world's population lives under light-polluted skies, and 23% of the world's land area is affected by sky glow.
To reduce light pollution, it is important to direct light only where it is needed. This can be achieved by using shielded lights, or full cut-off fixtures, which ensure that light is directed downwards, reducing the amount of light that escapes upwards and sideways.
When it comes to choosing the right type of light to minimise light pollution, the colour matters. Blue light, with its shorter wavelengths, scatters more in the atmosphere than red light, which has longer wavelengths. Therefore, red light sources are a better choice to reduce sky glow. Astronomers often use red light sources to view star charts, books, and notepads in the dark, as it helps protect their night vision adaptation.
For domestic lighting, low-level bollard lighting can be useful for illuminating paths or walkways while minimising light pollution. When installing lighting for large outdoor areas, spacing the lighting units at around 2.5 times the height of the mounting can provide the correct lighting performance.
By adopting these measures, such as using red light sources and directing light downwards, light pollution can be significantly reduced, improving the quality of the night sky and benefiting human health, astronomy, and the environment.
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Fully shielded fixtures
While shielded lighting is a good option, it is not a 100% effective solution to light pollution. This is especially true in snowbound countries, where the ground and sky act as reflectors under street lights. However, shielded lighting can still be a useful way to reduce light pollution.
Outdoor lighting fixtures that shield the light source can minimize glare and light trespass, which helps to prevent light pollution. Light trespass refers to when light enters from angles other than those near the target, making it hard for a visual observer to adapt to the dark. Fully shielded fixtures are designed to prevent light from escaping upwards, minimising light pollution and sky glow. This is important as even a single light can be disruptive to the natural lightscape, annoying neighbours and confusing nocturnal animals.
When installing lighting for a large outdoor area, it is important to consider the height at which the lights will be mounted and the distance between each lighting unit. For areas such as gardens or driveways, spacing the lighting units at around 2.5 times the height of the mounting will provide the correct lighting performance.
It is also important to consider the type of light used. White light sources such as metal halide, fluorescent, or white LED can produce up to three times the visual sky glow brightness of a high-pressure sodium lamp. Therefore, it is recommended to use warm-coloured bulbs such as amber LEDs, which have been used in some parks and towns.
In summary, while fully shielded fixtures are not a perfect solution to light pollution, they can be an effective tool when combined with other measures such as the use of warm-coloured bulbs and careful consideration of lighting placement and spacing.
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Properly spaced lighting units
Light pollution is the presence of any unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive artificial lighting. It has harmful effects on human health, wildlife, and the environment. To reduce light pollution, it is important to properly space lighting units and ensure they are mounted at the appropriate height.
When installing lighting in large outdoor areas, such as gardens or driveways, it is recommended to space the lighting units at approximately 2.5 times the height of the mounting. This ensures optimal lighting performance while minimizing light pollution. The height and spacing of the lighting units are crucial factors to consider to achieve the desired lighting distribution.
In addition to spacing, it is essential to direct the light appropriately. Route lighting, for example, should be carefully considered to minimize light pollution. By ensuring that the light is directed downwards, you can avoid flooding observing areas with light and maintain a balance between visibility and minimizing light pollution.
Domestic security lights should be designed to illuminate a single property effectively, without lighting up the entire street. Tungsten halogen floodlights are a popular choice due to their affordability and ease of installation. These lights can also be fitted with motion detectors to enhance security. However, it is important to ensure that the detector and the floodlight are aligned in the same direction.
To further reduce light pollution, it is recommended to use dimmers, motion sensors, and timers to decrease average illumination levels and conserve energy. Additionally, using warm-colored LED bulbs and compact fluorescents can help minimize light pollution while maintaining visibility. These simple measures can significantly reduce light pollution and its impact on the environment and human well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
Some ways to reduce light pollution include:
- Using fully shielded light fixtures that prevent light from travelling upwards into the sky.
- Replacing current light fixtures with more energy-efficient options, such as low-level bollard lighting.
- Modifying the position of a light source to minimise its polluting effects on the night sky.
- Using DarkSky Approved light fixtures that are fully shielded and have a low CCT.
White light sources such as metal halide, fluorescent or white LED can produce up to three times the visual sky glow brightness of a high-pressure sodium lamp. More than 80% of the world's population lives under sky glow, which is caused by anthropogenic activities.
The best outdoor lighting to minimise light pollution is domestic lighting that minimises glare and helps with stargazing. When installing lighting outdoors, it is important to consider the height at which the lights will be mounted and the amount of distance between each lighting unit.
