What is light pollution?
Protecting the dark skies and preventing light pollution is a very important campaign adopted worldwide to help increase the number of stars visible at night, reduce the effects of electric lighting on the environment, improve the health and safety of people and wildlife, and cut down on energy usage. In addition to this, the dark skies initiative helps raise awareness of the natural beauty of our skies and encourages people to uphold this beauty for the rest of eternity.
Some direct causes of light pollutants include outdoor/street lighting, electronic advertising such as billboards, sport lighting, factories/industrial buildings, and houses. Although lighting is important so that we can see our surroundings and identify possible danger, excessive lighting can have several consequences.
Light pollution can have negative effects on both humans and wildlife. Lack of sleep or disrupted sleep can also be linked to a direct result of artificial light exposure. Other effects from light pollution include migraines, and a decline in mental health. Other studies have suggested that exposure to artificial light at night may alter hormones and interfere with biological processes that could lead to health conditions such as obesity.
The disruption of natural cycles of plants and animals who rely on darkness to regulate their behaviour can lead to a decline in biodiversity and an imbalance in ecology. It is also said that light pollution can interfere with the migration of birds.
Outdoor Lighting
As outdoor lighting is one of the main causes of light pollution, DarkSky.org have published Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting to prevent and reduce light pollution. Responsible light pollution should be…
- Useful– Only use light when necessary and consider how it could impact the area.
- Targeted– Direct light only where it is required, be careful when directing it.
- Low-level– Use lighting that is low level in brightness.
- Controlled– Use timers or motion detectors to ensure the light is on when needed and turned off when not needed.
- Warm-Coloured– Limit the amount of shorter wavelength (blue-violet) light to the least amount needed.
The Orca SWiTCH Pro Wall Pack
The Orca SWiTCH Pro Wall Pack is designed to offer high performance lighting solutions whilst minimising light pollution. This product demonstrates a commitment to combine functionality with environmental responsibility – something that is very important in the twenty-first century.
The principles previously mentioned are all successfully met by the Orca SWiTCH. The first principle can be applied to this product as the integrated photocell allows the user to minimise the operational time by adjusting the light to come on when the sun sets and turn off when the sun rises. The light direction points downward at a fixed position and only has a 1.1% upward lighting making it perfect for use in dark sky areas but still iluminating an area. Thirdly, the Orca SWiTCH Pro Wall Pack offers low-level brightness due to its 4-Wattage feature. The Orca SWiTCH Pro Wall Pack meets the controlment principle as various features can be controlled such as the Wattage, Colour Temperature, and the Photocell. Lastly, the Orca SWiTCH Pro Wall Pack has three colour temperature (3000K, 4000K, 6500K), therefore, less likely to scatter into the atmosphere and cause artificial brightening of the night sky.
Find out more about our award winning product here → Orca Switch Wall pack