Light pollution is defined as any adverse effect of artificial light. Light pollution obscures Stars in the night sky, disrupts ecosystems and can have negative health effects for us and other living things. Light pollution can be divided into two main types: (1) annoying light that intrudes on an otherwise natural or low-light setting and (2) excessive light (generally indoors) that leads to discomfort and adverse health effects. Since the early 1980s, a global dark-sky movement has emerged, with concerned people campaigning to reduce the amount of light pollution.
Many conservationists have begun to theorize about the amount of light that intrudes into the night sky as being overpowering, obtrusive and simply wasteful. Much of this is true. Have you ever really noticed how much artificial light is taking up your night sky? Chances are it depends on whether you live in the city, or in the suburbs or in a rural setting. No matter where your home is situated at one time or another the night sky around you has been invaded by artificial light. To many of us it is quite unpleasant. Here at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives we make every effort to ensure our lighting solutions do not promote light pollution.
Outdoor lighting when used in residential applications should focus on the object or area it is intended to illuminate, not to over-illuminate the area by shooting light out in all directions. Around 85% of all the light pollution is caused by high intensity commercial lights like those used at shopping centers and gas stations. High voltage, energy gulping lights are most often the culprit.
Outdoor Lighting Perspectives uses low voltage lighting in our outdoor lighting applications as well as super efficient LED’s to less obtrusive incandescent and metal halides. In addition, in our outdoor lighting design, we seek to shelter any upward directional lights by eaves, tree canopies or other architectural or natural overhangs. While low voltage light will not light up the sky, we do take extra precautions to gently illuminate the architecture or landscaping as that is our focus – no pun intended.