Dark Sky Compliant Outdoor Lighting

Artificial light at night has become a pervasive issue, with over 80% of the world's population now living under light-polluted skies. This has significant consequences for both human health and the environment.

For humans, light pollution can disrupt sleep patterns, increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the body's circadian rhythm. For the environment, light pollution can disrupt the behavior of nocturnal animals, harm sensitive ecosystems, and interfere with astronomical observations.

One way to mitigate the negative effects of light pollution is to use dark sky compliant outdoor lighting. Dark sky compliant lighting is designed to minimize light trespass, glare, and upward light emissions, which are the primary causes of light pollution.

Dark sky compliant lighting fixtures typically have the following features:

Shielded light sources: The light source is enclosed in a fixture that prevents light from escaping above the horizontal plane.
Full cutoff: The fixture is designed to emit no light above the horizontal plane.
Dimming capabilities: The fixture can be dimmed to reduce light output when necessary.
Motion sensors: The fixture only turns on when motion is detected, reducing unnecessary light emissions.

Dark sky compliant lighting is available in a variety of styles and can be used for a variety of applications, including street lighting, parking lot lighting, and security lighting. When choosing dark sky compliant lighting, it is important to consider the following factors:

The purpose of the lighting: Different applications have different lighting requirements.
The amount of light needed: The amount of light needed will vary depending on the size and use of the area being lit.
The surrounding environment: The presence of trees, buildings, and other obstacles can affect the amount of light needed.
The cost of the lighting: Dark sky compliant lighting can be more expensive than traditional lighting, but the long-term savings in energy costs and environmental benefits can make it a worthwhile investment.

By using dark sky compliant outdoor lighting, we can help to reduce light pollution and its negative effects on human health and the environment. We can also help to preserve the beauty of the night sky for generations to come.