November 11, 2022

What is light pollution and how can I reduce it in my garden?

In 2022 it’s said around 80% of the world’s people and as many as 99% of European and US citizens live in areas affected by light pollution. What’s the reason for this? Excessive emission of artificial light at night, mainly because of inappropriately mounted streetlamps, illumination of places that shouldn’t be lit and the use of inadequately designed lights.

Why are more people becoming concerned about light pollution?

People are becoming more conscious of the impact and consequences of their actions on the environment, especially in the area around where they live and immediate surroundings. They are also progressively aware of longer-term threats to the planet and the negative impact that can have on life, health and organisms. Light pollution is increasingly becoming part of the conversation.

What does light pollution cause?

It’s said light pollution can develop hormonal disorders in humans, including melatonin deficiency resulting in problems with metabolism and sleep deprivation. It can also have negative consequences for the development of plants and animals who rely on circadian rhythm in evolution.

What exactly is light pollution?

Generally, light pollution is when an excessive and unnecessary number of artificial lights are being used in a natural night-time environment. Light pollution can be split into three different categories.

Skyglow is when light shines upwards, whether directed, without glare control or reflected from ground surfaces and put into the atmosphere to produce an illuminous background.

Over-illumination features issues including:

  • Not using timers, sensors, or other controls to make sure lights aren’t being used when they’re not needed.
  • Poor design leading to lights specifying higher levels of brightness than is warranted.
  • Wrong choice of lighting fixtures or bulbs, hence not providing the correct levels of direct light in specific areas.
  • Sub-optimum lighting systems which mean more energy than necessary is used to achieve desired lighting output.
  • Lights not being maintained correctly which increases the amount of stray light and energy used.

Light trespass can happen when light shines into a property from one nearby – this relates to the previously mentioned causes of sleep deprivation.

Reducing light pollution

Having looked at the negative impact of light pollution, it’s important to know what can be done about it. Here, we’ve put together a list of things you can try to help reduce it:

  • Using LED lights which are eco-friendlier and brighter could mean a reduction in the overall numbers of lights needed in a space.
  • Shielding light illumination either by purchasing glare control louvres and shields etc or buying fixtures with ones already fitted. This will help avoid having the light shine into the night sky.
  • Remembering when to switch off lights which aren’t being used or switching off any lights that aren’t needed for safety or security reasons when you go to bed.
  • Installing timers or motion sensors so lights aren’t on when you don’t need them to be.

Choosing the light solutions to mitigate light pollution

At Lighting for Gardens, we try to limit upwards illumination by not specifying brighter lights than are needed and by blocking any upward light with hoods and glare shields. The Midas, Domo and Nebula Spreadlights all have hats which block any light from going up, and Waymarker ground recessed lights have a small, mirrored surface above the light source to block any upward light and reflect it sideways.

Many of the wall lights like the Elipta Compact Wall Spotlights point downwards so very little light goes up. Wall lights such as the Portsmouth, Dartmouth, Chatham Eyelid and the Greenwich have hats or eyelids built into the design specifically to block upward light.

Unlike most bollard lights on the market, Elipta path lights and bollard lights have been designed specifically to direct the light where it is needed - which is mostly downwards or across. Many more have louvres which limit upward light spill and others throw light downwards and sideways. As well as cutting down on light pollution it is a more efficient use of the light.

If you would like to know more about how our products help reduce light pollution don’t hesitate to get in touch here.