Guardians of the Night: Part 2
At DW Windsor, we remain committed to responsible lighting practices. To further this commitment, we recently interviewed leading Dark Sky experts and consolidated their insights into a five-part series called Guardians of the Night. These articles illuminate the impact of light pollution and propose practical steps to mitigate it. Grounded in expert knowledge and research, these recommendations serve as a guiding framework for sustainable nighttime lighting solutions.
Part 2 - Balancing lighting for safety and wayfinding with Dark Sky guidelines
The following article provides thought-provoking insights into concerns and practices around lighting’s role in safety and wayfinding, and practical steps to guide regulatory and ethical practices to make responsible lighting a reality.
The role of lighting in safety and wayfinding
Security is very subjective, as any place can feel unsafe with the wrong lighting. The principles of Dark Skies address this, as they focus on keeping light where it is needed and reducing glare. This allows users of an area to quickly adapt to their surroundings and follow a safe path (Asfuroglu, 2024).
Research shows that when 80% of existing lighting is reduced, the reduction does not impact pedestrians (Yakushina, 2024). Furthermore, research into crime rates shows excessive light does not reduce crime (Yakushina, 2024). This would suggest that the existing lighting design and its application are not meeting the original objective and, in some circumstances, it is a wasted resource.
Cities are a source of extremely high glare and are becoming increasingly brighter. This change is not always obvious as it happens steadily and gradually over a period of time. Human vision is designed to adjust to the environment, so it goes unnoticed (Asfuroglu, 2024). Yet, artificial lighting creates glare and collisions, and too many lights in cities can create issues with directions (Yakushina, 2024).
By using fixtures designed to minimise glare, light can be directed where it’s needed without causing visual discomfort or contributing to light pollution (Mazhar, 2024). Therefore, wayfinding has to be a part of the lighting and building thought process as it affects all aspects of safety. If you can see someone, you can adjust your behaviour accordingly for the situation you are in (Bissell, 2024).
The role of lighting designers in meeting safety and wayfinding needs
Dark Sky recommendations recognise the importance of lighting for safety. There is, however, a misconception that Dark Skies is about limiting light or switching it off, but this isn’t the case. For wayfinding, vertical illumination is very important for lighting design, which you can achieve as a byproduct of downlighting on surfaces (Asfuroglu, 2024). This means that safety and wayfinding lighting can be designed in line with Dark Sky principles to minimise light pollution. However, any lighting – including safety lighting – should be carefully considered and justified based on clear, proven need rather than installed indiscriminately (Oakley, 2024).
It’s a matter of how you shield these lights so they don’t shine up into the sky. Simply making the light horizontal won’t help our dark skies, so it is crucial to interpret Dark Sky principles to deliver both environmental safety and social sustainability (Asfuroglu, 2024).
Other important factors to consider are lighting controls and colour temperature. Too often, there is a lack of joined-up thinking – if it’s a light, a lighting designer should be responsible for it. Otherwise, there are risks, such as inappropriate signage illumination dominating a whole building (Bissell, 2024).
As lighting designers dedicated to preserving natural landscapes while ensuring safety and wayfinding, there are several ways to achieve balance. The first is through strategic lighting design, starting with precise placement and careful specification. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) emphasises directing light only where needed to avoid unnecessary glare and skyglow (IDA – Lighting Principles) (Mazhar, 2024).
The IDA Lighting Principles also highlight task-specific lighting zones. This means lighting only critical areas such as pathways and intersections while leaving other areas darker. This approach minimises light spill and preserves natural darkness (Mazhar, 2024).
When planning major roads with extensive lighting, roads are lit in busy, cluttered areas, while country lanes rely on drivers adjusting their speed and awareness. The safest route home is therefore on main roads. This highlights the need to educate people on the role of lighting in evening safety (Bissell, 2024).
The lighting sector has explored how far we can use an abundance of illumination to deliver great effects; now it is time to explore the minimum amount of light required.
—Kerem Asfuroglu, Dark Source
Safety is seen as a significant driver for public lighting schemes, meaning local councils install more lights to create a safe environment. However, to limit light pollution and unnecessary energy consumption, lighting could be developed to incorporate sensors. Or, like Spain, the adoption of cats’ eyes and light-reflecting paint to highlight road markings offers a softer wayfinding glare (Yakushina, 2024). This aligns with IES Pathway Lighting guidance, which explores reflective materials or ground-level lighting that guides pedestrians without adding to skyglow. These methods enhance visibility while reducing environmental impact (Mazhar, 2024).
In general, lighting safety requires a shift in thinking, but once a precedent is set, it is hard to change (Bissell, 2024).
While the over-installation of wayfinding lighting leads to areas becoming increasingly brighter, we need to be conscious that everything around it needs to match. The human eye cannot adjust quickly to extreme lighting levels. It becomes a safety issue to drive through a bright area and then straight into a dark one, as our eyes take time to adjust, which can pose significant risks behind the wheel (Bissell, 2024). IDA research shows that unshielded light actually reduces visibility compared to shielded light (Yakushina, 2024), meaning lighting schemes for wayfinding need to be carefully planned with consideration for existing and surrounding applications.
Other ways to create the right balance include time-adjusted lighting—implementing systems that automatically adjust brightness throughout the night. They start brighter and gradually dim as activity levels decrease. This adaptive approach supports human and community needs and is demonstrated in research on Circadian Rhythms by the National Library of Medicine (Mazhar, 2024).
Involving the community in designing lighting solutions tailored to local needs is also a key strategy. This collaborative approach ensures safety while promoting environmental stewardship. There are also opportunities to test new lighting technologies in real-world settings to find innovative solutions that balance safety and environmental goals. Initiatives like this drive continuous improvement in lighting standards and are promoted by RASC - Innovation in Lighting (Mazhar, 2024).
The lighting sector has explored how far we can use an abundance of illumination to deliver great effects; now, it is time to explore the minimum amount of light required (Asfuroglu, 2024).
About the authors
Andrew is a past president of the Society of Light and Lighting and a Partner at Ridge and Partners LLP. He has worked in lighting design since 1996, currently leading Ridge’s lighting design team. During his presidency, Andrew developed guidance to protect the night sky, supported early-career professionals, and raised the profile of lighting specialists within the construction industry. His projects span various sectors, focusing on improved design processes, enhanced environments for both people and wildlife, and reduced energy use and material waste. More recently, Andrew has contributed to large-scale Dark Sky initiatives in the UK and Saudi Arabia.
Kerem is the founder of Dark Source, an award-winning lighting design studio in the UK and Ireland guided by environmental principles. After earning an MA in Architectural Lighting Design from Wismar University in 2010, he spent 7.5 years at Speirs Major before establishing Dark Source in 2019. Named a Dark Sky Defender by Dark Sky International, Kerem has led projects such as the Plas Y Brenin Outdoor Centre, Presteigne Dark Sky Community, Newport Dark Sky Masterplan, Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Clwydian Range & Dee Valley, and Dark Sky Planning Guidelines for Cumbria. His work highlights low-impact solutions that harmonise built environments with nature.
Yana is a lawyer, researcher, and dark sky protection educator currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Ghent under the Horizon EU PLAN-B project, where she also serves as one of the scientific coordinators. Yana specialises in light pollution regulations and space law, leading and contributing to international projects on the development of the protection of the nocturnal environment, and collaborating with various organisations, including the Space Court Foundation Inc., the EU Commission, DarkSky International, Starlight Foundation, the International Astronomical Union, and UNOOSA. In 2023, she co-founded the Belgian dark sky organisation Living Night (DarkSky Chapter).
Dan Oakley is a dark sky expert and founding director of Darkscape Consulting. He previously served as the Dark Sky Officer at the South Downs National Park Authority, overseeing the IDA International Dark Sky “Moore's” Reserve application and developing planning policies and technical guidance. Dan chairs the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) Places Committee and is a founding member of IDA-UK. He also established and coordinates the UK Dark Skies Partnership to reduce light pollution. With degrees in physics, wildlife management, and environmental policy, Dan has earned multiple accolades, including the IDA Dark Sky Defender award.
Hiba is an award-winning Architectural Lighting Designer based in Dubai, contributing to innovative lighting solutions for international public, urban, and interior projects with a focus on sustainability and dark sky practices. Recognised for her pioneering work, Hiba's research titled "Reimagining Traditional City Lighting with New Light Recipes to Confiscate Light Pollution" was presented at SLL CIBSE 2022, earning her a finalist position in the CIBSE Research Competition. Her research also highlighted the effects of city lighting on animals. Hiba’s accolades include the SIGNIFY Global Lighting Design Awards 2021 and an “Honourable Mention” in the LIT Awards 2022. By merging technical expertise with creative vision, she is redefining architectural lighting, championing designs that safeguard ecosystems and enhance urban landscapes.
Steve is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society who has authored numerous articles and books on practical astronomy. For over 40 years, he has taught astronomy to adults and children, sharing his passion through lectures, workshops, and hands-on sessions. He serves as the Dark Skies Advisor to both the Federation of Astronomical Societies and the International Dark Sky Reserve at Cranborne Chase National Landscape. In addition to speaking at astronomical societies in Britain and abroad, he regularly addresses Rotary, Probus, and U3A groups. Steve also writes a monthly column for BBC Sky at Night Magazine, reviewing equipment and literature.