Light Pollution Guidelines

More light is not necessarily better light. If you don’t need the light, switch it off. 

If light is required, consider using sensors, motion detectors or timers to ensure lights are only on when needed. 

Before installing or replacing a light fixture, decide if it is really needed. Consider how the light will affect the surrounding area, including your neighbours. 

To avoid excess lighting, select a suitable light fixture, ensure lights are mounted at appropriate heights to reduce light trespass and only light the area used for the task and not outside the required area.

Light should be directed towards the ground and not allowed to spill upwards. Lighting directed down reduces glare and improves visibility. 

All light fixtures should be located, aimed or shielded to avoid lighting unintended areas, especially above the horizontal plane of the light fixture.

Remember that misdirected or excessive lighting might impact your neighbours when it travels off your property.  

Light fixtures that are shielded direct light downwards.

It’s better to have more lights at a lower intensity of brightness than one bright floodlight. Bright lights create glare that can impact security by creating dark shadows.  

Good outdoor lighting does not need to be excessively brighter than the surrounding area. 

Consider reducing the wattage of outdoor lighting to 50 watts from 100 watts, for example.