The German government has launched an environmentally friendly lighting project for the protection of biodiversity. On March 1, 2022, a new regulation in the German Federal Protection Act came into force to protect animals and plants from harmful light emissions. German lighting giant Selux has developed a new street light to help protect insects’ habitats.
Street lighting contributes to the quality of life, increases the feeling of security and makes urban environments more attractive. Although the purpose of street lamps is to illuminate the roads, they also shed some light into the sky. The uncontrolled radiating light attracts flying insects like a vacuum cleaner. Birds are distracted from their migration routes, and bats’ habitats are severely reduced.
In collaboration with the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries and the Department of Lighting Technology at the Technical University of Berlin, Selux has developed a new street light design that minimizes the reflection of light on the flight paths of insects. Insect-friendly special lighting design ensures that light emissions from street light only reach roads and pavements. In doing so, it continues to comply with lighting standards for road safety.
Dark sky technologies have been at Selux’s focus for many years. Accordingly, Selux took action to develop a street lamp that takes into account the needs of nocturnal animals. A sharp limitation of light was desired in the project. The specially designed optics and light shading system direct the light down. It creates a clear line of light on the road surface. In this way, while the light is less visible to insects, the light hitting the lighting pole and reflecting is also prevented.
A test installation of 24 luminaires was carried out at a site in Havelland, in the west of Brandenburg state. Scientists are studying the effect of new streetlights on insect behavior. If this evaluation is positive, it is planned to expand the application throughout the country.
