Lighting for Dark Sky

Dark skies are defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as:

“Places where the darkness of the night sky is relatively free of interference from artificial light."

Between 1993 and 2000, light pollution across England increased by 24%. Today, less than 10% of the UK population can enjoy a view of our own galaxy, the Milky Way.

To put this another way, more than 90% of the UK population is now denied a view of the sky which was taken for granted for almost all of human history – a view which has fired the imagination of generations of people and in the process inspired countless artists, poets, musicians, mathematicians, scientists and philosophers. Without the night sky acting as a source of creativity and questioning, some of the most important scientific discoveries may not have been made nor works of art produced.

The ecology and behaviour of nocturnal animals can also be significantly disrupted by artificial light. It can negatively impact upon their natural rhythm, diet and sleeping pattern. It is particularly important to design artificial light that doesn't negatively effect endangered or threatened species.

When it comes to exterior lighting, colour temperature can be hugely important, as the warmer the colour temperature the lower the blue content of light. The blue light is what is causing issues for animals and wildlife. This is a key part of Dark sky compliance for this reason. Over illumination of blue rich LED’s are causing animals to believe it is the morning when it is not.

Dark Sky

Tamlite urban luminaires are at the forefront of this movement. Meticulously crafted to minimise unnecessary upward illumination and glare, these luminaires play a pivotal role in safeguarding our local wildlife and reducing light pollution for the surrounding environment. With Tamlite's commitment to creating the ideal exterior environment at night, we can revel in the beauty of the night sky while preserving the delicate balance of nature.

With luminaires such as the CITY PARK, CITY PT, PTS, CITY RL, and CITY PATH now Dark Sky approved, we are looking to help illuminate the world with responsible choices, ensuring a brighter and greener tomorrow for generations to come.

IDA

The International Dark-Sky Association is the recognized authority on Dark Sky and light pollution and is the leading organization combating light pollution worldwide. Since 1988, IDA has led a movement to protect night from light pollution.

The International Dark-Sky Association promotes solutions that allow people to appreciate dark, star-filled skies while enjoying the benefits of responsible outdoor lighting.

GN08 - Bats and Artificial Lighting At Night

As of August 2023, GN08 has been updated to cover modern LED light sources and their control, the effect of different light wavelengths of different species and introduces a mitigation hierarchy for lighting where bats could be or are present, including a series of case studies.

Download a copy here for your reference

There are 4 main components of light pollution that are IDA recognise:

Steps that can be taken to reduce Light Pollution and darken our sky

• By adapting intensity. Good does not always mean bright; softer lighting often better highlights architectural details and minimises glare.
• By orientating and focusing the luminaire. The ULOR ratio, which is the percentage of light flux emitted upwards, should be lower than 3% for practical lighting, and 20% for atmospheric lighting.
• By choosing a programmable outdoor lighting solution to prevent unnecessary waste. Lighting may be set according to the time of day or to human presence. Lighting controls can be set to be used at an absolute minimum and only when necessary.
• Optics. Exterior lighting can be managed by the use of optics. Exterior optics revolve around controlling the light; making sure the light isn’t spilling over into the wrong areas. Exterior designs often need to be more intricate, pushing the light in different directions across both axis. Asymmetrical lighting is ideal for concentrating the light beam in one direction, the sort of lighting that exterior applications need, as to not illuminate areas that are not intended (that will in turn cause obtrusive light).

Dark Sky Podcasts with The Light Review

CITY Range

The Tamlite CITY range of urban luminaires delivers high quality external lighting for a wide variety of applications. From lantern fittings for roads and car parks to bollards and wall lights to illuminate the way for pedestrians, this urban luminaire family covers every outdoor space – addressing the key requirements of exterior lighting.

Urban lighting creates a balance between light and darkness. Tamlite recognises that the objectives of exterior lighting are to make people and buildings more safe and secure, enhance outdoor spaces and architecture with outstanding visual aesthetics, and should create a more inclusive natural world with energy efficient solutions which avoid light pollution.

Check out our blog: Dark Skies: A Brief Summary