The transition to LED outdoor lighting is progressing worldwide due to benefits such as energy efficiency and long life. However, at the same time, new challenges have begun to attract growing attention; these are commonly referred to as light pollution, which includes glare from bluish light, impacts on ecosystems, and the increasing brightness of the night sky. In particular, outdoor lighting that is brighter than necessary at night and contains a high proportion of blue light has been pointed out as potentially affecting both human visual comfort and the natural environment.

As part of Nichia's sustainabLED™ initiative, this post will introduce LEDs designed to help mitigate light pollution and contribute to spaces that are environmentally friendly and more comfortable.

What is Light Pollution?

Light pollution refers to the phenomenon in which artificial light, such as outdoor lighting, has undesirable effects on the nighttime environment.
Major impacts include the following:

• Brightening of the night sky, making stars harder to see
• Reduced visibility and comfort due to glare
• Negative effects on wildlife and plant life

Particularly, high correlated color temperature (CCT) lighting contains a greater proportion of blue light, which is more easily scattered in the atmosphere and is considered one of the factors contributing to increased night sky brightness. For this reason, selecting an appropriate CCT based on the application and installation environment is especially important for outdoor lighting.

How Nichia's HPS color LEDs Address this Challenge:

Nichia's HPS color LEDs are designed to help address concerns related to light pollution. These LEDs faithfully reproduce the emission color of high pressure sodium lamps (HPS), which have long been used in outdoor lighting applications and are characterized by their warm appearance. In addition, despite their low CCT of 1800K, these LEDs offer higher CRI performance compared to conventional high-pressure sodium lamps, contributing to improved visibility and visual comfort. As a result, they enable the creation of a gentle lighting environment that harmonizes with people, wildlife, the night sky, and surrounding landscapes.

Main Applications and Examples:

Through a joint research study with the Tokushima Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Technology Support Center, the low insect attraction performance of Nichia's HPS color LEDs (1800K) has been confirmed. By reducing insect attraction while minimizing impact on the nighttime environment, these LEDs are expected to be used in the following applications and areas:

• Street and roadway lighting
• Residential areas and their surroundings
• Historical and scenic districts
• Areas where consideration for the natural environment is required

Summary:

Nichia will continue to focus on developing products that are considerate to the global environment. Step by step, Nichia will advance its efforts toward a sustainable future.

For more information about products, refer to Nichia's website: HPS color LEDs
For more details on the joint research with the Tokushima Prefectural Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Technology Support Center: Nichia's HPS Color LEDs (1800K) Show Reduced Insect Attraction in Joint Research | Products | News Room | NICHIA CORPORATION