It’s a popular activity when a large number of citizens and amateur athletes on a daily basis using the football fields during evenings. Usually without taking into consider the dense urban environment in the surroundings, causes light pollution. In amateur activities due to the lack of rules and the incorrect lighting design, the problem of light pollution is deteriorated.
According to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), “In the USA, it is estimated that more than 2,000 outdoor sports lighting complexes are either retrofitted or installed each year.” Many of the newly created fixtures are installed at schools, parks and neighborhood complexes. For residents in these areas, spill light and glare prove to be common and recurring issues. While these are the primary points of contention for neighbors of sports fields, skyglow (light that is scattered into the atmosphere) can extend farther distances and affect ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
Many manufacturers have been worked to develop lighting systems that are more effective for their intended purpose while eliminating many of the undesired effects. Some of the solutions are following.
- Add the shielded, which prevent light from traveling upward from the source;
- Switching to LEDs, which conserve energy and offer more control and precision than traditional incandescent lights;
- Automation or control systems, allow lights to be turned off at a pre-selected curfew time;
- The minimization of blue wavelengths that can affect human sleep cycles by suppressing melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle;
- Considering shielding, reflectors, wattages, beam types, mounting height and aiming angles, which each influence the amount of glare produced according to the International Commission of Illumination’s guidelines for light source intensity
- Taking advantage of natural screening when possible
- Using timers, sensors and controllers to keep light from unnecessarily entering neighboring spaces;
- Closely supervising scheduling and field use to ensure that lights are not left on when not in use.
AIKO’s sports lighting to ensure adherence to industry standards can reduce your costs and energy production and improve nighttime conditions in your community while limiting the impact on the night sky.
