Energy saving lights could prevent the early onset of the seasons, according to an industry expert.
Lee Halliday of BLE Lighting & Power Ltd in Sheffield, was speaking after a recent study found that spring arrived more than a week early this year due to artificial night lighting which led to tree buds growing prematurely.
The study by the University of Exeter’s ecology and conservation department found that buds began forming 7.5 days early in bright areas.
He said: “Traditionally there is a lot of lighting out there that uses old technology and is less energy efficient. It is more efficient to have LED or Induction Lighting and you can also apply lighting controls including daylight harvesting and non-occupancy sensors.
“There are a whole range of different controls you can apply to lighting that are more efficient, it’s not just about turning lights on or off but about dimming them down. A lot of energy is wasted but with the right product those issues can be addressed.
According to the report over the last 150 years, the natural night-time environment has been drastically altered by the proliferation of man-made artificial lighting. In 2001, it was estimated that almost a fifth of the Earth’s land surface was polluted by light, and subsequently the amount of artificial light has been increasing at approximately six per cent annually.
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