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Tyrol Competence Center on Light Pollution and Dark Skies

The Tyrol Competence Center on Light Pollution and Dark Skies is a hub of knowledge, practice, and exploration on one of the most practical and sensual fields of planetary protection.

The Center is an initiative of the Tyrolean Environmental Ombudsoffice, started in 1999.

The Center is:

→ the Alpine Arc’s living regional lab for visitors and dwellers of all ages to explore how starlight and darkness power life on Earth,
→ a central gateway to/of scientific work and hands-on experience on light pollution and starry skies,
→ a regional hub for advice and service on dealing with light in cities and municipalities, business or factory sites, outdoor facilities and public spaces.

We are proud to now bring together three decades of rigorous compilation, referral and regional innovation. We make our body of knowledge and experience accessible to many decision-makers and shapers, industry, visitors and students, and, most importantly: future generations.

The dark side of light

The invention of electric light liberated people from darkness. But since then it has become brighter and brighter on Earth, and the starry sky is now no longer visible in many places. The increasing use of outdoor lighting for streets, buildings and cable car stations and the apparently unlimited availability of light not only affect the day-night rhythm of human beings; they also have an impact on the habitats of many animal and plant species.

What is light pollution?

LIGHT IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME

Light pollution occurs when natural light sources are overwhelmed by artificial light. This changes the light conditions in the twilight and night hours and has negative effects on people and the environment.

Aspects of light pollution

LIGHT TRESPASS

disturbs the human hormone balance and people’s sleep.

LIGHT TRESPASS - disturbs sleep and human hormone balance.

ILLUMINATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

disturbs animals, plants and ecosystems.

ILLUMINATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT - disturbs animals, plants and ecosystems

LIGHT SMOG

makes the stars in the sky
invisible.

LIGHT SMOG - brings the starry sky to disappear.

GLARE

causes damage to the retina and increases the risk of accidents.

GLARE - causes retinal damage and leads to traffic risks.

Milestones

Tyrol Competence Centre on Light Pollution and Dark Skies

THE PLIGHT WITH LIGHT (HELLE NOT)

2023

 

Organization of the symposium "Dark Skies in the Alpine Region" as part of the "Innsbruck Nature Film Festival" with DarkSky International in Innsbruck.

 

2023

 

Tyrolean Environmental Ombudsoffice becomes part of the DarkSky Austria committee.

 

2023

 

Participation and contributions at the 25th European Lighting Congress (LICHT2023) in Salzburg.

 

2022

 

Participation in the "Light Pollution Workshop" in Brno in the course of the Czech EU Presidency.

 

2022

 

Participation and oral presentations of HELLE NOT and SKYSCAPE at the "Protection of the Night Sky Symposium" in Fulda.

 

2022-2025

 

Erasmus+ Project STARLIGHT: Skills for Tourism and the Recognition of the Importance of Dark Skies – Education and Training for Tourism Stakeholders.

 

2022

 

Tyrolean Environmental Ombudsoffice becomes a board member of the "Lichttechnische Gesellschaft Österreich".

 

2022

 

Cooperation with the Tyrolean Football Association: Floodlighting on football pitches – new installations and retrofitting, lighting requirements: Information for municipalities and clubs.

 

2020-2022

 

Interreg project SKYSCAPE: Awareness for Dark Skies, Development and implementation of tourist offers and products – diligent use of artificial light, experiencing starry nights.

 

2021

 

Accompanying the conversion of the Zirl football pitch lighting system: The new, warm-white, targeted LED floodlighting system reduces the illumination of the nearby edge of the floodplain forest by a factor of 10.

 

2021

 

Position paper series of the Tyrolean Environmental Ombudsoffice: PART 1: Artificial lighting at night, PART 2: Street, cycle path, footpath and car park lighting, PART 3: Sports facility lighting, PART 4: Effect lighting.

 

2020

 

Participation and oral presentation at the symposium "Good Light" in Vianden, Luxembourg.

 

2020

 

Festive LIGHT CODE, a cooperation with the company MK Illumination to minimize adverse effects of decorative lighting.

 

2019

 

Publication in the yearbook of the "Verein zum Schutz der Bergwelt": Light pollution and the vulnerability of nocturnal insects.

 

2018

 

Collaboration on the "Austrian Guide to Outdoor Lighting".

 

2018

 

HELLE NOT folder, info sheet and postcard, design by Liquid Frontiers.

 

2018

 

Participation and oral presentation at the "Upper Austrian Environmental Congress – Good Light for a Natural Night" in Linz.

 

2017-2019

 

HELLE NOT Travelling exhibition with Liquid Frontiers: A mobile, interactive room-in-room concept can be seen at 25 locations throughout Tyrol, and in Vorarlberg in 2019.

 

2017

 

Position paper of the Tyrolean Environmental Ombudsoffice: Skybeamer.

 

2016

 

Participation and oral presentation at the "Fachkongress Kommunale Straßenbeleuchtung" in Feldkirch.

 

2016-2019

 

Interreg project FUTOURIST: Development of nature based tourist offers – First guided tours to starry nights in the Kaunertal Valley in 2018.

 

2014

 

Participation and poster presentation at the "Artificial Light at Night" conference in Leicester.

 

2013

 

Joining "Loss of the Night Network".

 

2013

 

Participation in the "Artificial Light at Night" conference in Berlin.

 

2012

 

Participation in the Austrian Light Immission Control Standard ÖNORM O 1052 (updates in 2019, 2022).

 

2011-2014

 

"Innovative outdoor lighting" project with the companies Bartenbach, Swareflex and IKB: Development of a compatible, efficient lighting concept for outdoor areas.

 

2011

 

Position paper of the Tyrolean Environmental Ombudsoffice: Ski slope lighting (updates in 2014, 2015).

 

2011

 

2nd study with Tyrolean State Museum: Insect attraction test with optimised experimental setup in cooperation with Bartenbach company. Warm white LED lamps have a comparatively lower attraction effect on insects.

 

2010

 

1st study with Tyrolean State Museum: Attraction effect of modern light sources on nocturnal insects.

2010

 

Initial contact with the Bartenbach company and consideration of the topic of "light pollution" in the Light Academy.

 

2009-2011

 

Lighting check with Energie Tirol: Promotion of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient lighting in Tyrolean municipalities.

 

2005

 

1st prize in CIPRA's Future in the Alps competition.

 

2003

 

It is thanks to the initiative of the Federal Environment Agency that HELLE NOT has found its way across Tyrolean borders to all the provinces (e.g. Vienna's Environmental Ombudsman's Office).

 

2002

 

Ford Environmental Award.

 

2000

HELLE NOT Foundation with the Tyrolean State Museum and publication of the HELLE NOT brochure (updates in 2003, 2009, 2012).

Map

Seen from space, populated and industrial regions can be clearly recognised by their light points.

Studies show a rapid increase in light pollution. Not only the brightness is increasing but also the size of the illuminated area. Depending on the location, the brightening of the night sky is increasing by two to six percent annually.


Why is light pollution increasing (multiple answers possible)?

Good lighting

Light pollution is an easy problem to solve.

The first step is to question the need for the lighting.

Where artificial light is essential, the location and type of lighting in particular are crucial in terms of responsible use.

Good lighting improves the quality of life, saves costs and improves the state of our environment.

Further information

Videos

Lichtverschmutzung - Kufstein und seine Beleuchtung
Die Helle Not
ORF Tirol Heute - Helle Not Wanderausstellung
Interview - Regio TV - Lichtverschmutzung - FFF Kufstein
Hessischer Rundfunk – Alles Wissen Lichtverschmutzung Schattenseiten
Land Oberösterreich - Licht im Einklang mit Mensch und Natur
IDA – Der Verlust unserer Nacht
Quarks - Lichtverschmutzung: Darum siehst du in Städten kaum Sterne
What is Light Pollution, and How Can You Help Reduce It?
Sci Show – The Strange Scourge of Light Pollution
IDA – Borrowed Light