⁠What is ‘dark skies friendly’ lighting?

What is ‘dark skies friendly’ lighting?

Over the last 50 years, the amount of artificial light visible at nighttime has increased rapidly to the point where it has started to disrupt the natural environment for both people and animals. For animals, this lighting can disrupt behaviours like migration, reproduction, and feeding. For people, light pollution makes it difficult to see the night sky and reduces melatonin production, which helps regulate our sleep cycles.

Light pollution continues to increase globally, affecting both urban and rural areas. According to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), light pollution wastes significant energy and money while disrupting ecosystems and wildlife habitats. This is why understanding what is dark sky compliant outdoor lighting has become increasingly important for communities, businesses, and homeowners alike.

To address these issues, ‘dark skies friendly’ lighting has become a solution, especially when it comes to outdoor post lights. These lights are designed to minimise light pollution, focusing illumination where it’s needed without casting unnecessary glare into the sky.

What is ‘dark skies friendly’ lighting?

‘Dark skies friendly’ lighting refers to outdoor light solutions that are designed to minimise light pollution and only illuminate the intended target to conserve energy and protect the environment. It follows four key principles: using the right amount of light, the right type of light, placing it in the right location, and ensuring it’s on at the right time.

Dark sky compliant exterior lighting typically features shielded fixtures that direct light downward rather than outward or upward. These fixtures often have a distinctive appearance with a cap or hood at the top that prevents light from escaping upwards.

The importance of using ‘dark skies friendly’ lighting cannot be overstated. Not only does it help conserve energy and resources, but it also benefits the natural environment and human health when outdoor illumination is designed thoughtfully.

What are the standards for ‘dark skies friendly’ lighting?

The International Dark-Sky Association sets the standards for dark-friendly lighting through their Fixture Seal of Approval program. They evaluate light fixtures based on their ability to:

• Limit light emitted above the horizontal plane to 2% or less
• Limit blue light emissions to minimise circadian disruption
• Limit glare to protect visibility and dark-adapted vision

Dark sky compliant lighting requirements have become increasingly stringent in recent years, with many local authorities beginning to incorporate them into building codes and planning regulations. These standards ensure that dark skies friendly lighting fixtures meet these guidelines:

Zero upward light reflection (0ULR)

0ULR means that no light is emitted above the horizontal plane, ensuring all light is directed towards the ground. This minimises sky glow and light trespass.

Lighting temperature of 3000k or less

A lower colour temperature, around 3000k, produces light that is closer to incandescent bulbs, emitting more orange and yellow light. This ‘warmer’ light is easier for people and wildlife to adjust to, causing less disturbance to their sleep and behaviours.

Full dimmability from 100% to 0%

This feature helps prevent wasted energy by allowing the lighting to be dimmed to suit the current needs. When motion sensors detect no activity, the lights can be dimmed to 0%, saving energy while not in use.

Common misconceptions about dark sky lighting

Many people mistakenly believe that dark sky compliant lighting means insufficient illumination. This is far from the truth—properly designed dark sky lighting provides appropriate illumination where it’s needed while reducing wasted light.

Another common misconception is that implementing dark sky friendly lighting is prohibitively expensive. While there may be initial costs for replacing older fixtures, the long-term energy savings and reduced maintenance costs often result in a positive return on investment within a few years.

Top benefits of ‘dark skies friendly’ lighting

Aside from reducing light pollution, dark-friendly lighting offers many benefits, particularly for specific sectors, such as:

Contractors and designers

Contractors and designers are increasingly seeing demand for dark skies friendly lighting from clients, particularly for new developments and urban planning projects. There is a growing push for light pollution regulations at the municipal level to reduce the impacts of light trespass and sky glow.

Dark skies friendly lighting aligns well with green building certifications and sustainable architecture goals. It can help projects earn points for minimising light pollution and reducing energy use through efficient lighting design. Contractors can market their expertise in this area to appeal to environmentally conscious clients.

Using fixtures with dimmable capabilities and lower colour temperatures below 3000K provides multiple benefits. It can reduce energy costs through dimming lights when not in full use. Lower-temperature lighting also consumes less energy to produce. These features help projects meet sustainability targets for energy efficiency and reduced consumption.

Government offices and agencies

Dark skies friendly lighting can help government offices and agencies achieve significant energy and cost savings through several methods. First, fixtures with dimmable capabilities allow lights to be dimmed or turned off when not in full use, reducing energy consumption. Lower colour temperature lighting below 3000K also uses less energy to produce compared to higher colour temperature lights.

Second, dark-friendly lighting has a longer lifespan due to using high-efficiency LED bulbs that last longer, reducing maintenance and replacement costs over time. Finally, as dark skies friendly lighting is designed to direct light downwards where it is needed, less light is wasted upwards into the sky. This loss of light into the sky represents energy that is not put to productive use, so such lighting maximises the efficiency of the energy used for illumination purposes.

Homeowners and communities

For homeowners, installing dark sky compliant lighting can reduce energy bills by up to 35% compared to traditional outdoor lighting. Additionally, properly directed lighting enhances security by eliminating dark shadows and providing clear visibility of pathways and entrances.

Communities benefit from reduced light pollution through improved health outcomes, as excessive artificial light at night has been linked to sleep disorders and other health issues. Dark skies can also attract astro-tourism, bringing economic benefits to rural areas that preserve their night skies.

Practical implementation tips

When transitioning to dark sky compliant lighting, consider these practical steps:

1. Audit your current lighting: Identify fixtures that contribute most to light pollution.
2. Prioritise replacements: Focus first on the most problematic lights.
3. Consider timing controls: Install motion sensors or timers to reduce usage during low-traffic periods.
4. Choose the right brightness: Many installations use excessive lumens; calculate your actual needs.
5. Select shielded fixtures: Ensure all new installations have proper shielding to direct light downward.

The key takeaways: What is dark sky compliant outdoor lighting?

Understanding what is dark sky compliant outdoor lighting is essential for creating sustainable, environmentally responsible illumination solutions. It involves using shielded fixtures that direct light downward, warm-temperature bulbs (3000K or less), and appropriate timing controls to minimise unnecessary lighting.

Switching to dark skies friendly fixtures is a fairly simple change that offers multiple benefits. Contractors, architects, and businesses should consider incorporating dark skies friendly lighting into their projects and help create a more sustainable future while enjoying the benefits of starry night skies. It’s not too late, let’s make the switch today and see the positive impact it can have on our communities, wallets and environment.

At Hornbeck (formerly Made by Landmark), we offer a range of eco-friendly lighting solutions, such as outdoor post lights and bollards, helping you make a positive impact on the environment. Explore our selection today and take the first step toward more sustainable outdoor lighting that respects our night skies and natural ecosystems.