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Reducing Light Pollution Through Your Choice of Outdoor Lighting

Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, western societies have gotten into the habit of living in a world surrounded by light, both inside and outsi

Reducing Light Pollution Through Your Choice of Outdoor Lighting
Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, western societies have gotten into the habit of living in a world surrounded by light, both inside and outside the home, which allows people to pursue their activities after the sun has gone down. And yet, have you ever given any thought to the negative effects of an overly lit environment? The overriding consequence is light pollution of our cities! What can we do to counter this phenomenon?Light pollution is an occurrence that manifests itself at dusk. It is caused by an overabundance of misdirected, ineffective, and useless lighting systems, most notably in urban areas where artificial light sources such as street lamps, are used excessively. The following shows how street lamps light our exterior spaces:Light projected by a street lamp can be deconstructed into three parts. Firstly, we have light that shines upwards, as represented by Zone A in the above diagram. This lighting angle is lost and useless to people walking around outside. It is also the predominant reason for the reduction of visibility of the stars in our city skylines. The Amateur Astronomers Federation of Québec has revealed that “97% of the populations of North America and Europe live in lighting-polluted skies”. Secondly, we have light that shines at a 10-degree angle above the horizon and that results in a glare, as identified by Zone B in the above diagram. This light is also detrimental to surrounding areas as it generates intrusive lighting. Finally, the last is the only true light, as defined by Zone C in the above diagram. In light of the above, we need to ask ourselves a pertinent question: What future do we wish to offer generations to come?Artificial lights have replaced stars and darkness, which are harmful to human health. Scientists have noted that the production of melatonin is delayed when our circadian rhythm is exposed to excessive lighting. The circadian rhythm is the process that regulates our sleeping patterns. Consequently, with a disproportionate amount of light outside, the time it takes for our bodies to fall asleep at night is extended and our sleep is less than satisfactory. Over time, studies suggest that this might increase our risk of suffering from obesity, depression, diabetes, etc. We invite you to read our articles entitled '' LED and Its Possible Health Effects - Part 1 and Part 2'' to learn more about the potential harm of artificial light on the general population. We also need to consider how light pollution affects animals and their behaviour. We know that some species hunt, reproduce, migrate and hibernate in the dark. Intense brightness, at night, tends to disrupt the usual behaviour of these nocturnal animals; they confuse artificial light with the light of the moon. This disturbance can also affect the chances of survival of some prey who have adapted to darkness to better avoid nighttime predators. Thus, on a larger scale, excessive and useless lighting can have damaging repercussions on several ecosystems.The exaggerated use of misdirected or useless lighting causes an enormous waste of energy. This economic impact on cities, industries and individuals cannot be discounted. The AAFQ estimates that the cost of wasted light energy projected toward the sky stands at 45 million dollars each year in Québec alone.Raging a war against light pollution does not mean we should discontinue lighting our cities; we simply need to light them more adequately! We need to find an effective and relevant lighting process based on spatial considerations. The ‘ ’International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)’’ programme was founded in 2001 to promote responsible lighting policies and to educate the public on the preservation of our dark sky. The Association encourages the use of lighting systems that help reduce light pollution based on the following criteria:
  • Lighting spaces only when it is necessary;
  • Lighting targeted zones in spaces that require it;
  • Opting for low intensity light fixtures
  • Reducing the diffusion of blue light and glare;
  • Encouraging fully covered, downward-pointing lighting.
Visit the IDA page that talks about lighting basics (English version only) to learn more about lamps that meet night sky standards. You may also want to read our article entitled « LED Street Lights: Not Too Dark, Not Too Bright, Just Right » that contains further information on lighting our exterior spaces without increasing light pollution.To counter light pollution, we need to make suitable lighting choices. To do so, we must focus on quality lighting systems that are safe and adequately calibrated to reduce their impact on our environment. The IDA recommends using a light that does not exceed 3,000 kelvins and directing that light toward the area where it is required. The Dark-Sky certification from the IDA indicates one’s promise to respect the recommendations of the Association’s programme regarding outdoor lighting. Stanpro outdoor light fixtures are undergoing a certification process at the moment. Following is an actual list of our Dark-Sky certified products: Stay tuned to discover all our products that will soon be certified!