The influence of private lights on the source of the light pollution

Abstract

From the beginning of its most severe study, in the seventies, all efforts on light pollution in the city, have focused primarily on reducing pollutant flux emitted by the public road lighting systems. In this research, the focus of attention is diverted to the analysis of the sources of domestic private light, it is expected to open new avenues of research and increase knowledge about the problem in cities.

The analysis is developed in a particular area of the city of Barcelona, Spain. Is taken as reference the district of Les Corts with an area of about 136.6 hectares. We analysed and classified the neighbourhood streets, according to their type and their pollution contribution is calculated by RAMA-L computer simulation method developed at the UPC (Garcia Gil, 2009). As a fundamental parameter Superior Flow Emitted (in Spanish EFS) is used. The software used in the simulation will be the DIALUX (DIAL, 2015). It will take into account only domestic light from the windows of the houses in the neighbourhood, ignoring other private sources, and compared to the light pollution from sources of road public. The approach is through a simplified method, per provides comparable data, in order of magnitude.

This work shows that the contribution to light pollution of domestic private light regarding efficient lighting is high enough to consider possible improvements and solutions.