CULTURE OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING.THE PROBLEM OF LIGHT POLLUTION
Authors:   Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Stashenko M.S. , Rusol A.S. ,   Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Published: April 2021

Human is a unique creature that was given an ability to change and develop the surrounding world at own discretion. Therefore, the humanity gifted with a spark of the divine began to reshape the surface of our planet. In the course of time, it became clear that anthropogenic world is opposed to the nature. This caused the upset of the Universe’s balance. Nowadays the mankind impact on the environment is more than ever. There are such well-known problems as global warming, air and water pollution, the recycling issue. Although there are ones which are hidden or difficult for our understanding. One of them is called light pollution. We face it every day, but do not pay enough attention to the way the artificial light effects on us and the nature.The main objectives of the research are to analyze the regulatory documents and the scholarly writings on the topic effect of the light facilities exploitation on the environment and the human, to formulate the main problems, which appear during the application of the artificial outdoorlighting and to figure out efficient methods to reduce their impact.Light pollution has become one of the global problems. Unlike many environmental problems facing humanity, the problem of light pollution has a cumulative effect, which result is shown over time. That is why it becomes clear that awareness-raising activities are necessary to provide the society knowledge about artificial lighting, its way of operating and the consequences of its use. Light pollution is a physical phenomenon when natural light regime is disturbed. This effect is due to the irrational organization of the work of lighting equipment, excessive use of lighting outside the desired area, improper use of artificial lighting sources. As a result, scattered and reflected light contaminates the sky -this is how light flows into the upper hemisphere. The effect of light pollution is also amplified by the presence in the air masses of the smallest particles of dust and aerosols. The light passing through them can change their trajectory or scatter.There are such problems caused by the effect of light pollution:1) impact on human health and safety –it is hard to deny that sleep disturbance can be a ground for the development of wide range of diseases. Scattered light which comes into the room through the window from the outside is the first thing we might think about, but the way light influences on human is much more difficult. To give our body an ability to rehabilitate it is important to provide the full darkness. Human hormonal system produces melatonin –the sleep hormone. If amount of this hormone is low, the quality of sleep decreases. It may cause illnesses of cardiovascular system, nervous system, hormonal disbalance etc.;2) disruption of the planet's ecosystem –lifecycles ofliving beings depend on light cycles. In animal world it is usual that creatures have their own “timetable” that dictates the rhythm of their lives. Aside humans, animals and birds cannot derogate from the nature planned life periods. For example, some animals rely on night-time hunt. Because of the light pollution such animals confuse day and night. What is more, birds can lose the direction of their flight and even the orientation in the space, flying over and over above lit up areas. Flora also suffers from the over-light. Plants’ lifecycles get moved. This aspect may cause the harvest lost, if crop is ready not the right season.3) inappropriate financial expenses –old lighting systems are energy-intensive, so they need to be replaced by energy efficient analogues. But the way of use is also important. The huge amount of energy is wasted. Most light facilities work when it is not desired. For instance, many outdoor light fixtures in Ukraine work all the night through without stopping;4) obstruction of scientific researches of the night sky.The world experience in the issue of light pollution differs from country to country, but every year more and more countries understand the seriousness of this problem. Some countries such as Chili, USA, Canada etc. develop their legislative framework and put some strict limits on the exploitation of the outdoor and architectural lighting. Global problem calls for global cooperation. Therefore, such organizations as The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) become more popular.On the contrary, in Ukraine the problem of light pollution is not payed enough attention. Although it should be solved on the governmental level. The standards shown in regulatory literature about the outdoor lighting is built by the principles of human comfort, but without respect to the environment.The research made it possible to formulate a set of recommendations on design and exploitation of the light facilities to create a concept of a sustainable development in the area of urban improvement. The existing system of outdoor lighting enhancement should include next steps:1) the introduction of standards for the illumination regulation and the implementation of the minimum values of illumination;2) rational arrangement of light fixtures, designers should avoid the usage of light in the adjacent areas where lighting is not provided;3) reducing the duration of lighting facilities work by the use of special equipment: dimers, motion sensors, timers, etc.;4) modernization of the old lightingequipment;5) use of "warm" light by applying light bulbs with a light temperature up to 3000 K;6) usage of fixtures that are fully shielded so the light streams do not go towards the sky;7) put limitations on the quality and amount of the architecturallighting use.