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5 Smart Lighting Principles
Embrace the Five Lighting Principles to reduce light pollution across residential, commercial and government building types. Developed in collaboration with the Illumination Engineering Society (IES) and Dark Sky International, these guidelines offer a practical roadmap for preserving our shared night sky.
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Useful
There are many reasons to want lighting, but we should use it only when necessary. Proper lighting serves two purposes: security and wayfinding. Any lighting that does not support these functions is unwarranted.
Targeted
Use full cutoff or fully shielded fixtures. The light source sits recessed inside the fixture so illumination is directed only toward its intended area. This prevents stray light from escaping beyond its target.
Low Level
Opt for low-lumen fixtures whenever possible. Even for security, a softer glow preserves your night vision and lets you see beyond the lit area without glare. The WVAC advises keeping general lighting at 500 lumens or below for general applications.
Controlled
Exterior lighting should always be controlled by timers or motion detectors. This approach cuts light pollution while boosting security and energy efficiency.
Interior lights are often left on at night out of habit or because they go unnoticed. Installing timer switches lets you set lights to stay on for a chosen period, from minutes to hours. Motion sensors raise security by making any movement immediately obvious.
Warm-Colored
Warmer, amber-toned lights work best. Keep fixture color temperatures below 3000 K. For most applications, we recommend 2700 K. Manufacturers often label 3000 K as “Warm White” or “Soft White,” while 4000 K and above appear as “Daylight” or “Cool White.”
Refer to the Kelvin scale chart below to see how different temperatures look.
Lower color temperatures emit less blue light. Blue wavelengths scatter more easily, creating larger skyglow and disrupting local ecosystems.
Luminaire packaging includes a Light Facts label, similar to a food nutrition label, displays both color temperature and lumen output. See the example Light Facts label below for more details.
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