Responsible Outdoor Lighting: Five Principles From The IES & DarkSky

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) have joined forces to address the global issue of light pollution. IDA and IES Board of Directors unanimously adopted Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting to guide the lighting industry to better, more sustainable lighting practices. At First Light Technologies, these five principles are already part of our design ethos. We’re experts at lighting only what is required, minimizing wasted energy, and reducing light pollution– here is how we do it.

Light pollution is defined as the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light. Wasted light that isn’t directly lighting the intended area causing light pollution results in $3B in wasted energy in the US each year. Light pollution obscures our view of the night sky, disrupts our sleep patterns, and causes harm to wildlife by affecting migration, nourishment, sleep, and protection from predators.

How We Achieve the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting

Useful – All light Should have a clear purpose

Free from wiring limitations, solar lighting can be strategically placed only where lighting is required. Lighting layouts are a great tool to help our customers see exactly how the light will perform for their application, reducing wasted light and project costs by lighting only what is necessary.

Targeted – Light should be directed only to where necessary

All of our luminaires and PLB family of bollards are full cut-off lighting, meaning no light is produced 90° above the light fixture – drastically reducing their contribution to light pollution. Each light is fitted with high-quality optics to shape the light produced to illuminate the intended area accurately without lighting additional areas unnecessarily. With multiple high-quality optics to choose from, our customers are given the freedom to decide how best to shape the light for their specific application.

Low Light Levels – Light should be no brighter than necessary

We guide our customers through the light buying process, looking for the right product to produce plenty of light for their specific needs without overdoing it. The right amount of light for an application ensures proper visibility without causing eye strain and excessive light levels in the environment. The adaptive technology built into our products optimizes the amount of light delivered based on each light’s individual location.

Controlled – Light should be used only when it is useful

Lights that continue to function when no one is around are typically unnecessary. All of our products leverage lighting profiles to customize when the lights are on, dimmed, or off – making sure you have light only when needed. Our IPL, SCL, and SCL2 luminaires are fitted with motion sensors in addition to lighting profiles to offer even more flexibility.

Color – Use warmer color lights where possible

Harsh, bright white LEDs cause discomfort and vision impairment. We use warmer colored 4000K and 3000K LEDs as standard in our lights, and offer custom color temperatures including, amber LEDs for wildlife sensitive applications. We can install blue blockers to our fixtures to meet city ordinance where blue light is a specific concern.