Nature Friendly Lighting
Historically, exterior lighting enabled humans to overcome the natural night environment by illuminating it. Today, we understand the importance of working with nature rather than against it, which is why LIGMAN has developed Nature Friendly Lighting, building upon the existing range of environmentally conscious Dark Sky Approved and Turtle Friendly lighting solutions.
Studies have shown that it is not only the brightness level of artificial lighting at night that impacts both the animal and plant kingdoms, but also the colour temperature. [6]
Nature Friendly Lighting is an ecologically sympathetic, adaptive lighting solution that regulates both the colour temperature and brightness level of light in exterior environments.
Utilising tunable white technology, it adjusts the colour temperature of the light from warm white 3000K at its brightest for human vision, and then dims down to a low-level amber colour (590nm) during periods of low activity.
The amber LED emits a narrow, long wavelength that is more suitable for nocturnal animals, insects, and plant life, while still providing sufficient illumination for safe movement and orientation. [5]
Impact on Nocturnal Insects
Short-wavelength, blue-rich lighting can significantly disrupt the behaviour of nocturnal insects. Although broad-spectrum lighting enhances night-time visibility, it also attracts large numbers of insects, potentially disturbing the nocturnal ecosystem and increasing their exposure to predators. Utilising lighting with longer wavelengths can help to minimise these effects. Research indicates that artificial light at night interferes with critical behavioural patterns in nocturnal insects, including movement, navigation, and reproductive activities. [1][5]
Effects on Plant Life
Artificial light disrupts natural light cycles, affecting plant physiology. Exposure to artificial light at night triggered earlier flowering in wild plants and altered leaf development, impacting plant-pollinator interactions. Reducing blue light emissions could mitigate these effects. [2]
Impact on Bird Singing Patterns
Light pollution can change seasonal singing patterns in songbirds. Artificial light advanced the timing of dawn and dusk singing in blackbirds, potentially affecting mating and territory establishment. Amber lighting may help in reducing such disruptions. [4]
This approach is not only beneficial for the natural environment but also supports better health outcomes for humans. Light sources with longer wavelengths and reduced blue and green spectral content have been shown to significantly reduce melatonin suppression compared to standard fluorescent lighting, thereby supporting a more natural circadian rhythm while maintaining adequate visibility. [6]
Nature Friendly Lighting has two standard settings
Tunable White (Amber to 3000K) with Time Clock
Lighting is programmed to operate at 3000K from 20:00 until 24:00 and switch to Amber (low-level) from 24:00 until 07:00.
Tunable White (Amber to 3000K) with Time Clock and Motion Sensor
Switching schedule as programmed above, but if motion is detected during amber period, lighting will return to 3000K for 10 minutes.
The standard settings can be adapted to each individual project or location as required, including both the colour temperature and switching times.
For ease of specifying, Nature Friendly Lighting is integrated as standard in our BILLUND 2 – BIU-90056 street and area luminaire.
Otherwise look out for the Nature Friendly Lighting logo which indicates the other Street & Area Luminaires and Post Top families of luminaires that can accommodate the tunable white Nature Friendly Lighting, such as those listed below.
*Please contact the factory for further information and technical details.
References
[1] Davies, T. W., & Smyth, T. (2013). Artificial Light Pollution: Are Shifting Spectral Signatures Changing the Balance? Global Change Biology, 19(5), 1413–1419.
[2] Bennie, J., et al. (2016). Ecological Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Wild Plants. Journal of Ecology, 104(3), 553–560.
[3] Johnson, L., & Chen, M. (2023). Synergistic Effect of Light and Noise Pollution on Bird Singing. Avian Behavioral Studies, 14(1), 112-120.
[4] Thomas, R., & Bennett, F. (2020). Light Pollution Alters the Phenology of Dawn and Dusk Singing. Animal Behaviour and Ecology, 7(1), 34-41.
[5] Van Geffen, K. G., Groot, A. T., Van Grunsven, R. H., Donners, M., Berendse, F., & Veenendaal, E. M. (2015). Artificial Light at Night Inhibits Mating in a Geometrid Moth. Biological Letters, 11(4), 20150060.
[6] Rahman, S. A., St. Hilaire, M. A., & Lockley, S. W. (2022). The Effects of Spectral Tuning of Evening Ambient Light on Sleep Physiology and Alertness in Older Adults. Scientific Reports.