Bright ideas: Reducing light pollution

By Dani Sheehan. 

Understand the impact of light pollution and how smart lighting strategies can help you illuminate outdoor fields without over lighting the night. 

From neighborhood soccer fields to community parks, nighttime lighting makes outdoor spaces safer, more functional and more enjoyable. But as outdoor lighting becomes more widespread, so do its unintended consequences: light pollution. By understanding and addressing light pollution, you can help preserve the night skies while designing systems that are efficient, effective and environmentally responsible. 

What is light pollution? 

Light pollution is excessive or misdirected artificial light that brightens the night sky and disrupts natural darkness. It comes in a few key forms: 

• Glare: Intense light that causes visual discomfort or impairs visibility 
• Light trespass: Spillover that illuminates areas where it’s not needed or wanted 
• Skyglow: The haze or glow that happens over cities due to upward-scattered light 

While we often think of pollution in terms of air or water, light pollution is just as real, and it’s growing. According to the National Park Service, sky brightness is increasing by nearly 10% annually in some areas. This means the night sky we see today could be twice as bright, and twice as obscured, within just eight years. 

Why light pollution matters 

1 – Disrupts natural ecosystems: Artificial light can throw off wildlife’s natural rhythms, including migration, mating and foraging behaviors. Birds, insects and even plants are affected by over-illumination. 

2 – Wastes energy and increases emissions: Poorly directed lighting wastes electricity. When light spills into the sky or beyond the intended area, it drains resources and inflates utility bills, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions unnecessarily. 

3 – Impacts human health and wellbeing: Light pollution affects human circadian rhythms, making it harder to sleep and altering our biological clocks. Glare from overly bright or poorly aimed lights can also reduce visibility, increase eye strain and even create safety hazards for pedestrians and drivers. 

Smart strategies for nighttime lighting 

So how do we balance the need for well-lit outdoor fields and other areas with the responsibility to protect our nighttime environment? 

1 – Use full cutoff and shielded fixtures 

Fixtures that aim light downward and prevent upward spill are a critical first step. Full cutoff or fully shielded lights direct light only where it’s needed to reduce glare and skyglow while improving on-the-ground visibility. 

2 – Choose the right light intensity and uniformity 

More light isn’t always better. Use lighting plans to determine the correct footcandle (fc) levels for the sport or activity being played – typically 30-100 fc for recreational fields – and aim for consistent uniformity to avoid bright spots and shadows. 

3 – Implement smart controls 

Timers, motion sensors, dimming systems and zoning controls allow you to adjust lighting based on time of day, occupancy and usage. For example, lighting can ramp down after games end or turn off entirely in low-traffic hours to save energy and reduce light trespass. 

With thoughtful planning and innovative products, it’s possible to design field lighting that meets performance needs without compromising energy efficiency, ecological balance or the beauty of a natural night sky.