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+1 (813) 649-8899The DarkSky Approved Program and Reducing Light Pollution
Protecting and preserving the environment has become more critical in recent years, with more and more businesses working on creating Net Zero CO2 emissions and reducing landfills. But there is another type of pollution that may not even seem like pollution despite the long-term problems caused by it; light pollution.
Light pollution can be split into four types which all contribute to a host of problems with the health and wellbeing of people and wildlife.
The good news is there are active efforts to fix this issue, thanks to organizations such as DarkSky International.
What is Light Pollution?
Light pollution can be described as light that creates a problem, whether in health, vision, animal migration, or more.
Light pollution can be split into the following categories:
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One of the most obvious types of light pollution is skyglow, where the reflection of light in the night sky can almost resemble daylight. This has known negative effects on Circadian rhythm and sleep in humans and animals alike, linked to health issues like Melatonin deficiency, fatigue, and even cancer. The easiest way to prevent this is by creating or modifying a light source so that it cannot shine upwards into the sky. Some examples include fixtures with a Full Cutoff, adding a Cutoff Shield before or after installation, and quantifying the total vertical bleed using IES technology to ensure light isn’t shining upward. |
How can we prevent these types of light pollution?
DarkSky International, formerly known as the International Dark-Sky Association, is a United States–based non-profit organization founded in 1988 to help combat the negative effects of light pollution by way of creating more efficient light sources, more mindful site planning, and creating a set of recommended guidelines for compliance.
Some of these requirements include the options for glare and cutoff shields as stated above, but also keeping a warmer color temperature below 3000K, using highly efficient LED lighting, and using fixtures that allow for dimming.
This is all verified through extensive laboratory testing and certification categorized using photometric lighting files as evidence and classified using the BUG rating. The BUG rating measures the Backlight, Uplight, and Glare of a fixture and is a crucial tool for determining Dark Sky eligibility.
For more information on the benefits of going DarkSky and what you can do to make a difference, please check out https://darksky.org/
HTM Lighting Solutions also has a wide selection of DarkSky-compliant light fixtures available, including our Gooseneck Light Fixtures and LED Wall Packs!
For any questions, assistance, or feedback, please feel free to contact us by phone at +1 (813) 649-8899 or via email at sales@htm-lighting.com.
References
National Geographic Society (2024, April 1). Light Pollution. National Geographic Education.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/light-pollution/
Staff (2024, March 8). DarkSky International. DarkSky International.
https://darksky.org/what-we-do/darksky-approved/
Tech Corner (2024, April 8). International Dark Sky Week: Let’s Talk About B-U-G. The Lighting Agency.
https://thelightingagency.com/blog/tech-corner/international-dark-sky-week-bug-rating-system/
- Michael Tomas
