Downtown Madison Light Pollution | Photo Credit: Chris Rycroft
Responsible lighting is good for business.
Simple lighting improvements can reduce energy costs, create a more comfortable environment for customers and employees, and help protect birds, wildlife, and the night sky.
Smart Lighting Practices for Businesses
Turn Off Unneccessary Lights
Turn off decorative, landscape, and other non-essential lighting after business hours whenever possible. Indoor lights left on overnight can also spill through windows, contributing to skyglow and attracting migrating birds, so switch them off when spaces aren't in use.
Use warm-colored outdoor lighting (2200K or lower) whenever possible. Warm lighting provides effective visibility while reducing impacts on wildlife and human health and contributing less to skyglow.
Aim Lights Only Where Required
Aim lighting downward and only where it is needed, such as entrances, walkways, and parking areas. Use fully shielded fixtures and avoid upward-facing floodlights or lighting that shines onto trees, landscaping, neighboring properties, or the night sky.
Use Warm-colored Light
Use Motion Sensors and Timers
Avoid Overlighting
Use only the amount of light needed for the task. Excessively bright lighting can create glare and harsh shadows that reduce visibility, waste energy, and contribute to light trespass that nearby residents often find disruptive.
Install timers or occupancy sensors so lights are only on when they're needed. Motion-activated lighting can provide security when activity is detected without leaving lights on all night, reducing energy use and operating costs.
5 Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting
Follow these five principles from DarkSky International to reduce light pollution and make your lighting more wildlife- and people-friendly.
Is your lighting…
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Ensure lighting has a clear purpose.
Ask yourself: Is this light truly needed?
Consider how the lighting will impact the surrounding area, including wildlife and their habitats
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Keep light focused only where it is needed.
Choose fixtures that direct light downward and use shielding to prevent light from spilling into unnecessary areas.
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Use the minimum brightness required.
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Ensure lights are only on when needed.
Use tools like timers, dimmers, or motion sensors to reduce unnecessary lighting and avoid leaving lights on all night
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Choose warmer-colored lighting when possible.
Warmer lights with less blue light are generally less disruptive to wildlife and human health.
1800K to 2200K are best, but sure to stay under 3000K
Did You Know?
Outdoor Lighting Wastes Billions of Dollars
DarkSky International estimates that 30% of all outdoor lighting in the United States is wasted, largely because lights are unshielded, overly bright, or left on when they aren't needed. That unnecessary lighting costs an estimated $3.3 billion in energy every year
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