The Dark Night Returns: Lighting System Performance Criteria for Mitigating Light Pollution

The LED lighting revolution in outdoor lighting has improved color rendering, lighting uniformity, aesthetics and delivered energy savings.  However, the energy savings benefits and rebates provided by utility efficiency programs have encouraged the proliferation of outdoor lighting retrofits and the lighting of previously unlit spaces, creating the unintended consequence of rapidly growing light pollution and negative impacts on many of the Earth’s ecological ecosystems and inhabitants.

Smart lighting, coupled with thoughtful design and product selection, can play a definitive role with eliminating stray light and delivering nighttime lighting only where and when it is needed. Light pollution can be reversed by simply replacing an existing luminaire with one that has better optical control of uplight, warmer CCTs, and integrated logic for dimming at specific nighttime hours—either alone, or in a networked group.  Cities and towns considering lighting upgrades would benefit from having comprehensive resources and tools for identifying and selecting products that will mitigate these issues without compromising energy savings.

This session will:

1. Define lighting system attributes and technical performance criteria necessary for mitigating the negative effects of light at night

2. Recommend ways that smart lighting can be used for managing performance using smart sensors, dimming and smart controls while also minimizing negative effects on coastal wildlife

3. Introduce the DesignLights Consortium’s Qualified Product Lists for LED luminaires and control systems, including the upcoming LUNA QPL