Energy and Light Pollution
Outdoor lighting, especially lighting that is poorly designed, is a source of light pollution. Excessive lighting disrupts ecosystems, it affects bird migration patterns, and inefficient lighting uses more energy.
You can make simple adjustments to outdoor lighting to reduce your energy consumption, protect your home and the natural world.
Here are some ways to address light pollution and energy savings:
1) Direct All Light Down
Broadcasting light up not only creates light pollution, but it wastes energy. By directing lighting down on paths and streets, you’re not only providing more effective illumination, but you will need less lumens to perform the same functions.
According to DarkSky.org “Glare from artificial lights can also impact wetland habitats that are home to amphibians such as frogs and toads, whose nighttime croaking is part of the breeding ritual. Artificial lights disrupt this nocturnal activity, interfering with reproduction and reducing populations” [source: DarkSky.org]
2) Choosing the Best Lights
Old streetlights are often mercury vapor lights that buzz and have an eery color, and are not only inefficient, but are dangerous to dispose of as they contain toxic mercury. Canada is phasing out mercury-containing lamps, including mercury vapor lights, with prohibitions on their import, manufacture, and sale starting in 2025 and continuing through 2030, primarily due to the availability of mercury-free alternatives like LEDs.
LEDs can achieve the same level of brightness with less wattage. LEDs are more energy efficient and provide better directional lighting.
3) Movement
If security is an issue, motion sensors not only illuminate activity, but they will save energy. Lighting outside only when needed can be accomplished with a simple retrofit to existing lights.
4) Color Matters
Lights vary in what’s known as color temperature and measured on the Kelvin scale. A light bulb that measures at 3000K or less is considered warm light and better for outdoor lighting. It is most similar in “color” to the old incandescent bulbs. 5000K is a cooler (blue) color and considered closest to daylight temperature. Warm lighting is preferred, and some studies have pointed to the harmful effects of cool (daylight temperature) bulbs. Only lighting with a color temperature of 3000k and below should be used to reduce the blue cool light effect that is harmful to many animal species.[source: DarkskyCountry.ca]
5) Assess and Upgrade
Take the time to review the outdoor lighting on your property. Are there poorly directed lights shing up or are there bright, blue-colored bulbs? You can replace bulbs with warm temperature bulbs of 3000K or less and perhaps add a motion sensor to reduce the number of hours the light stays on, saving energy. Consider a retrofit for an existing fixture with a shield to direct light downward.