INNER LIGHT: Indoor Light should stay Inside!

FRIDAY NIGHT – FIGHTING #lightpollution #80:

AN INTRUSIVE “INNER LIGHT”, INDOOR LIGHT SHOULD STAY INSIDE!

“SHOULD WE KEEP IGNORING INNER LIGHT IMPACT TO OUR LIVES: IS LIGHT POLLUTION’S DEFINITIONS SUFFICIENT & LEGAL FRAMEWORK STATE, EFFICIENT TO FIGHT INNER LIGHT NUISANCES?”

FNP #80 shines a spotlight on a crucial but often ignored issue: the adequacy of current light pollution definitions and legal frameworks in addressing the phenomenon of “INNER LIGHT” pollution.

The Overlooked Impact of Inner Light

The issue of “INNER LIGHT” pollution from buildings has been a significant blind spot in light pollution regulations. While light pollution definitions and legal measures often focus on outdoor lighting, the impact of indoor lighting seeping into the environment remains under-addressed. This gap prompts an essential question: Are our current definitions and legal frameworks sufficient to tackle this issue effectively?

Revisiting Light Pollution Definitions

Traditional definitions of light pollution emphasise the effects of artificial light on outdoor environment. Here are some key definitions:

• IDA (International Dark-Sky Association) Definition: “Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally.”
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Definition: “Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. In practical terms, light pollution is the presence of unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive artificial lighting.”
• National Geographic Definition: “Light pollution, the excessive or inappropriate use of outdoor artificial light, is affecting human health, wildlife behavior, and our ability to observe stars and other celestial objects.”
• Légifrance Order of December 27, 2018: This regulation focuses on outdoor lighting and does not address residential buildings explicitly.
  >Connecticut’s Laws: “Light pollution is generally unwanted or harmful outdoor light and can take several forms, including glare and light trespass.”

These definitions concentrate on outdoor light pollution but fail to consider the effects of indoor lighting leaking into the environment. This gap highlights the need for a more inclusive approach to defining and managing light pollution.

Understanding Inner Light Pollution

The concept of inner light pollution is not adequately covered by existing definitions. Descriptions of “INNER LIGHT” pollution often characterise it as:

• Indoor Light: “The external light pollution resulting from internal lighting lies in the exit or leakage of lighting from the internal space (inside the building) to the external environment (outside the building).”
• Indoor Light: “Indoor lighting is also a source of light pollution, as it is exposed to reflections and refractions through windows and glass facades, and smooth and shiny materials in the space, which causes its spread and scattering (Du et al., 2018; Rodrigues et al., 2015).”

kobi lighting studio is not fully satisfied with the definitions of “INNER LIGHT,” considering that it does not legally frame it in order to be used by the law and does not fully address all aspects of the phenomenon, so further refinement is needed. Mr. Jonathan Trouillon suggests a definition of “INNER LIGHT” intending to support in the constitution of a legal framework applicable and efficient in preventing this specific source of light pollution.

• Proposed Definition “INNER LIGHT”: “Could “INNER LIGHTS” be defined as indoor emitted lights involuntary leaking – via transparent or diffusing materials without control – to outdoor environments, generating light pollution?”, Jonathan Trouillon

This proposed definition emphasises the uncontrolled or inefficient emission of indoor light that impacts the external environment, highlighting a critical area inadequately addressed by current frameworks.

Strengthening the Legal Framework

To effectively combat “INNER LIGHT” pollution, it is crucial to rethink and enhance legal framework. By refining definitions and expanding regulations to include this type of pollution, we can adopt a more comprehensive approach to managing light pollution. This shift is essential for safeguarding our environment and health from adverse effects of excessive or poorly managed indoor lighting.
>Addressing “INNER LIGHT” pollution requires a re-evaluation of existing definitions and legal measures to ensure they are robust enough to protect against this growing concern. It’s time to bring the issue into focus and take action to prevent light pollution, not just from the outdoors but from the inside out.

Références:

Photos: kobi lighting studio, Jonathan Trouillon, Nguyen Le Nhat Vy

Article 1 – Arrêté du 27 décembre 2018 relatif à la prévention, à la réduction et à la limitation des nuisances lumineuses – Légifrance. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/article_lc/LEGIARTI000037998123

Light Pollution. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/light-pollution

Light pollution – resource | IUCN. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/light-pollution

(PDF) An Exploratory Study on the Effect of Indoor Lighting for Buildings on Light Pollution. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358822893_An_Exploratory_Study_on_the_Effect_of_Indoor_Lighting_for_Buildings_on_Light_Pollution

States Shut Out Light Pollution. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution

What is light pollution? | DarkSky International. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://darksky.org/resources/what-is-light-pollution/