Author name: Superb Solar

Light pollution has many ill-effects on our health, our wildlife, and the environment. Here are 3 simple steps to reduce light pollution effectively and efficiently. When we think of pollution, it’s usually ocean, greenhouse gases or chemical pollution that comes to mind. However, another type known as light pollution is just as prevalent in its environmental damage but often stays under the radar due to its more subtle ill effects when compared to dirty air or water. The constant abundance of stimulating, artificial light not only harms our health by disrupting our metabolism and sleep but also the well-being of our wildlife where it interferes with their migratory and breeding patterns. Unnecessary outdoor lighting also wastes high amounts of energy and further adds to greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, it’s the easiest form of pollution to remedy and these three simple steps are a great way to start: 1. Minimise light usage While this is an obvious one, its often overlooked. The luxury of lighting a room with just the flick of a switch, unfortunately, leads to complacency with turning lights off. It’s important to be mindful of whether the light is really necessary, especially during the day. Ensuring that lights are turned off when not in use as well as unnecessary outdoor lights is the easiest, cheapest, and most effective action to instantly reduce light pollution. 2. Switch traditional lightbulbs to efficient compact fluorescent lights and LEDs By switching to warm-coloured LEDs and CFLs, you can reduce light pollution levels and save a significant amount on energy costs without compromising on effective visibility. Investing in smart light controls to help manage your lights remotely as well as timers, dimmers and motion sensor lighting also help to minimise wasteful usage and undesirable light trespass. As a bonus, you reap the rewards in energy bill savings while reducing harmful emissions to the environment. 3. Optimise outdoor light settings with glare-reducing fixtures. Outdoor lighting fixtures that direct the light source more accurately to where it’s needed is a great way to minimise distractive glare, light trespass and reduce light pollution overall. By being mindful of our light usage and switching to the most energy-efficient light technology available, we can instantly enjoy the benefits of a safer and healthier environment.

Energy prices are increasing so it’s important to have the most cost-effective lighting in your premises. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider LED lighting. When considering lighting options for your home or business, chances are you will be overwhelmed by the many different types available. With energy prices constantly increasing, it is now more important than ever to ensure you choose the most cost-effective lighting for the pocket, whilst also protecting and preserving our environment. Here we break down the 5 reasons to consider LED lights. 1. Energy Efficient = Huge Savings The more energy or watts a bulb uses to light up a room, the more it will cost to run. As the average Australian home has approximately 37 light bulbs, it’s not long before energy prices begin to skyrocket, placing a huge strain on a typical household’s finances. Switching to LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) is a smart choice as they generally use around 85% less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs. As they are much more effective in generating light, they have minimal heat output dramatically reducing electricity wastage. This high level of operational efficiency can have huge savings of hundreds of dollars a year. 2. Long life LEDs have a super long lifespan of around 25,000 hours as opposed to conventional bulbs which only last between 1,000 – 2,000 hours, further adding to their cost effectiveness. As they are more robust in nature, the need for replacements is extremely low and together with the minimal need for upkeep and maintenance, your savings become even greater. 3. Cooler and safer LEDs operate at a much cooler temperature than traditional bulbs, greatly reducing the risk of fire hazards and minimising the deterioration of light fittings, shades and decorations. This also allows heating or air-conditioning systems to run more efficiently at the desired temperature setting. LED lighting is also completely sealed and highly resistant to harsh impacts, vibrations, or strong weather conditions. With no glass parts, these lights are much safer, especially around little ones. They are also mercury-free, ensuring no dangerous runoff into the environment once disposed of. 4. Greener energy As LEDs have longer-lasting power, less replacement is needed allowing a flow-on effect in reducing all aspects of production and ensuring reduced carbon footprint overall. Furthermore, they are ideal to work in tandem alongside renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind power for maximum efficiency. 5. More options The range of LED products is constantly evolving and with its low power and weight advantages, there are many choices available such as colour-changing LED strips, downlights, and luminaires. LED products can also be integrated into various systems such as smart light timers which can be remotely controlled by smartphones or tablets.   With LED products becoming more affordable and with ever-improving energy efficiency, there has never been a better time to switch to LED lighting to save money as well as protect our environment.