4.2.2. Responsible outdoor lighting

space”. Light is an extremely subtle medium in which values of illuminance, luminance, uniformity and glare are relative when considered the need to create character, ambience and identity” (Major, 2020)

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a leading organisation that promotes awareness about light pollution worldwide through education and the use of responsible lighting. The Dark-Sky Association sees the dark sky as a natural heritage that is inaccessible to a majority of the people living in or around cities and industrial areas. Together with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), they propose Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting to design beautiful, healthy and functional electric

lighting (figure 4.4)(darksky.org). By working with the five principles, the project aims to solve the issues of both having an interactive approach while still put a big emphasis on showing respect to its surroundings. “Projects that incorporate these principles will save energy and money, reduce light pollution, and minimize wildlife disruption.” (darksky.org). The project works with the following principles of:

Useful. “All light should have a clear purpose. Before installing or replacing a light, determine if light is needed. Consider how the use of light will impact the area, including wildlife and the environment. Consider using reflective paints or self-luminous markers for signs, curbs, and steps to reduce the need for permanently installed outdoor lighting.”

A useful light focuses on the situation, and it places itself for pragmatic reasons. The light does not stand as an ornament but as a gesture to the user and a complement to the environment in which it is placed. A useful light should only affect the area that it is oriented towards and should have a little, to no impact on areas outside of its field. As an example, a light can follow a pedestrian along a pathway instead of illuminating the entire pathway when there are no visitors. This way a useful light can be adaptive and solve several challenges at the same time. This ability is seen in smart lighting that intensifies when sensors give the information that something or someone is near. In useful integrated lighting, the synergy between light and surfaces creates a pleasant ambient atmosphere that makes it possible to navigate without being disturbed by spills of light as mentioned as well in the paragraph on Targeted Light. It has often been understood that darkness has different negative connotations, but it can also bring “visual silence”, calm and peace as well as protecting the natural habitat of birds and animals. (Major, 2020)

Targeted. “Light should be directed only to where needed. Use shielding and careful aiming to target the direction of the light beam so that it points downward and does not spill beyond where it is needed.”

From a practical view, the targeted light should not reveal its light source. It operates with a proper shielding of the luminaire, or it should be placed in a position pointing downwards that does not directly affect the

Figure 4.4 Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting

eye or the surroundings. A targeted light is also a focused light, a light that is specific for its context and not a generic streetlight as we see it in a generic city. The purpose is to move away from a homogenous lit city because not all parts of a city have the same identity and not all parts of a city need to tell the same story. This is specifically important when talking about light and a place of identity and belonging. In the context of a large scale down to defining the personal space that surrounds us, this can be done through the use of targeted light that is specific for the situation and its inhabitants.

Low light levels. “Light should be no brighter than necessary. Use the lowest light level required. Be mindful of surface conditions as some surfaces may reflect more light into the night sky than intended.”

It is not an absolute necessity for an intense light, but only enough light to be able to navigate. This has the benefits of lower light pollution and a side effect of lower energy consumption. With modern technology, light can be adjusted to the surface of where it is projected. Given what is happening in the world, light designers and manufacturers should be more aware of the global light pollution and how many areas are more lit than the others. Similarly, there is a phenomenon called "light poverty" taking place in the suburbs of Africa. From a larger scale, this is similar to what is taking place in the neighbourhoods of a city. There are areas in a city where there is a contrasting lack of light and others where is too much light, an exposure of light not needed. Therefore, a focus is needed on how to better control the light. The light must be used in a more efficient way, or more “energy saving”. “With little illumination, we can reasonably get away with without compromise to fulfilling to our basic needs”, this it is appropriate to appeal to the use of a smart lighting design, where lights can be dimmed down when no traffic or people are passing by”. (Major, 2020)

Controlled. “Light should be used only when it is useful. Use controls such as timers or motion detectors to ensure that light is available when it is needed, dimmed when possible, and turned off when not needed.”

Controlled lighting is smart lighting that is capable of adapting to situations through programming or connected sensors. Controlled lighting can be interactive but also practical when connected to a network of information, receptors and other mediums that are capable of creating an output. “(…) street lighting that is programmed (…) Such systems go beyond the generic provision of illumination, enabling entertainment, stimulating economic and social activity, and generating vital and vibrant urban environments.” (Arup,2015) Smart lighting moves the classical perception of lighting over into an interactive experience that engages and questions its users. It also has the ability to save energy by fulfilling its task only when needed.

Colour. “Use warmer colour lights where possible. Limit the amount of shorter wavelength (blue-violet) light to the least amount needed. Light where you need it, when you need it, in the amount needed, and no more.”

According to the International Dark-Sky Association, there should be a global reduction in blue light emissions to help raise the living conditions of people in and outside of urban areas and to preserve everyone´s right to a dark sky. In a world where illuminated media is dominant, lit signs that are used for presenting different commercials are “reaching new levels of excess”; people try to avoid having these types of lights in their homes, gardens etc. “High levels of light spilling in through windows can negatively impact our sleep patterns.”. In addition, it becomes highly important to live in a neighbourhood that has as few media facades as possible or having a relaxing night walk in an area where there is not such a high amount of eye disturbing light exposure. Therefore, the amounts of light and colours used should be re-evaluated in order to support a better “visual dynamism” of a space, especially if it is a residential or historical place. (Major, 2020)