Did you ever wonder why WMP has no street lights, and porch lights that don’t light up the sky? It’s because we are situated in the heart of the Peper Harow and Elstead Dark Skies zone. Find out more here: https://www.nightblight.cpre.org.uk
Dark Skies areas are protected areas that have very low levels of light pollution, enabling full appreciation of the night sky. Reducing light pollution also supports the wellbeing of our local wildlife, as many species are sensitive to artificial lighting.
Our houses’ porch lights were specified (and subject to planning permission) to provide a low level but adequate amount of light. When working correctly they switch off during daylight hours, in normal operation produce 150 lumens of light with 2w power consumption and when triggered by movement brighten to 600 lumens consuming 8w.
To keep in line with the local Dark Skies requirements residents must consider the following guidelines when fitting additional or replacement lighting:
Limit light intensity: Avoid using unnecessarily bright lights that contribute to light pollution. These fixtures should emit enough light for safety and security, but also minimise their impact on the surrounding environment.
Use shielded fixtures: All external lights must be designed to minimise light pollution. Shielded fixtures should be used to direct the light downward, preventing it from being emitted horizontally or upward. If the lighting fixture cannot be shielded adequately, use proper hoods, louvers, or covers to redirect light downward and limit glare. The goal is to keep the light focused on the desired area without wasteful scattering.
Use warm-coloured lights: Install light bulbs with warm colours (e.g., amber, orange, or yellow) instead of cool white or blue lights. Warm-coloured lights are less disruptive to nocturnal wildlife and are less likely to cause glare.
Use motion sensors, timers and dimmers: Install motion sensors to activate external lighting only when needed. This helps conserve energy and reduces light pollution by avoiding continuous illumination when it is not required. Timers and dimmers can also reduce brightness during late-night hours when there is minimal activity.
Minimise light spillage: Aim and position lights so that only the required area is illuminated without directly illuminating outside your property boundary.
Sometimes our porch lights don’t work correctly (e.g. on all the time or bright all the time). Just follow the simple reset procedure as detailed in the guide here: https://greenlighting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/P-Lux-Lanterns-Customer-Care.pdf. The Directors are more than happy to help if you have problems.