This shift toward eco-conscious design focuses on minimising environmental impact by reducing energy consumption, limiting light pollution, and protecting biodiversity and natural ecosystems.
The balance between functionality and environmental responsibility is now central to creating welcoming outdoor environments that nurture both human interaction and the surrounding nature.
Considerate neighbours
Artificial light impacts humans and wildlife alike, so when designing for outdoor, we need to think beyond the project boundaries and consider surrounding areas. Every project calls for this kind of evaluation. In residential areas, it's crucial to prioritise the well-being of the people living there, ensuring the lighting isn’t disruptive to their lives. We’ve all had that moment where a bright light shines directly into our bedroom window—frustrating, right? But let’s not forget that even seemingly empty spaces can be occupied by multitude of animals and plants. Just as we’re considerate of human neighbours, we also need to think about the local wildlife, ensuring our lighting doesn't disrupt their nocturnal routines. After all, no one likes to be rudely disturbed—whether they have two legs or four!
Ecological impact
With the rapid rise of LED technology, our cities are getting brighter and brighter. However, all that extra light isn’t without its downsides. Excessive lighting, especially in cooler colour temperatures, can disrupt the circadian rhythms of nearly all living organisms—including humans. This results in interrupted sleep, which can snowball into various health issues. Beyond that, artificial light can also affect migration patterns and breeding cycles of animals, leading to a decline in biodiversity.
We can mitigate these effects with smart design choices and careful product selection. Opting for warmer colour temperatures, such as 2700K, is a simple yet effective way to reduce the negative impacts of lighting. The human eye perceives light within a spectrum ranging from 380nm to 780nm, but this range varies across species. Many animals perceive light differently and are more sensitive to certain wavelengths. To address this, organisations like the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) recommend using light sources with a colour temperature no higher than 2700K and a peak intensity greater than 550nm. This helps minimise disruption to bats and wider wildlife.
Light pollution
According to "The New World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness," around 80% of the world's population now lives under light-polluted skies. Seeing a sky full of stars has become a rare privilege. There is a growing movement to bring dark skies back and let people experience the beauty of a starry night again, but this doesn't mean we need to switch off every light and live in darkness. Lighting is essential, from enhancing safety to encouraging social interaction—it plays a vital role in our lives.
The key to avoiding light pollution lies in a simple principle: using the right light, in the right place, at the right time. By selecting appropriate light fixtures with optics and light output suitable for application, we can ensure that light is focused where it's needed, without spilling into areas where it's not. Thoughtful placement, paired with light baffles where required, can deliver excellent results while maintaining high-quality illumination.
Smart lighting controls can add another layer of efficiency. Integrating smart systems allows us to adjust lighting levels based on specific needs and time of the day, ensuring appropriate brightness at the right moment. Not only does this help protect the environment, but it also leads to significant energy savings.
Checklist
Responsible external lighting design doesn’t have to be overly complex. To make the process easier we’ve created a simple, user-friendly checklist that ensures all key requirements are met. By following this guide, anyone can achieve a thoughtful and effective lighting scheme that balances functionality, safety, and environmental responsibility—resulting in a design that truly shines.
Find out more about outdoor lighting in our outdoor lighting guide, here.
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"I’m Iga Jakubczyk, Product & Category Manager (Healthcare & Outdoor) at Whitecroft Lighting. I lead the development of Whitecroft Lighting’s Healthcare and Outdoor sectors to provide total project solutions that help our partners deliver customer-centric and sustainable lighting."
Get in touch with Iga at iga.jakubczyk@whitecroftlight.com
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