LED Street Lighting

What can we do to improve the quality of our street lighting without harming our environment?
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has some recommendations.

Here are some simple guidelines when considering outdoor lighting, for domestic or public use.

• Always choose fully shielded fixtures that emit no light upward.
• Use “warm-white” or filtered LEDs (CCT < 3,000 K; S/P ratio < 1.2) to minimize blue emission.
• Look for products with adaptive controls like dimmers, timers, and motion sensors.
• Consider dimming or turning off the lights during overnight hours.
• Avoid the temptation to over-light because of the higher luminous efficiency of LEDs.
• Only light the exact space and in the amount required for particular tasks.

If you are concerned about plans for new street lighting in your area, you can lobby your Local MP/Council Representative to review:

• Brightness
• Whiteness
• Reach

Of any new public lighting in line with the IDA recommendations.

Campaign locally to promote less use of blue-white LED domestic security lighting and responsible planning of street lighting.