DarkSky’s Home Outdoor Lighting Assessment
Protecting the night starts at your front door.
No matter where you live, protecting the night starts right at your front door. This simple activity is designed to help you reduce light pollution around your home to support a healthy and thriving nighttime environment.
Does your home protect the night?
By following these four simple steps, you can reduce light pollution around your home, creating a healthier nighttime environment for plants, animals, and people alike. We invite you to participate in this fun and engaging activity to ensure your home is dark sky-friendly.
Use the resources below to complete this activity. You can also download the activity packet to complete it offline or share with others.
PDF download:
Home Outdoor Lighting Assessment
PDF download:
Home Outdoor Lighting Assessment (Marathi translation)
Translation credit: Shweta Kulkarni
Home Outdoor Lighting Assessment (Dutch translation)
Translation credit: Anne Hilarides
NOTE: We understand that not everyone can modify their outdoor lighting—especially those living in apartments or rental units. No worries, we’ve included recommendations just for you! This self-certification activity is about building positive awareness, and anyone taking meaningful action is welcome to participate!
Review the resources provided to better understand the impacts of light pollution and the need for quality lighting.
What is light pollution?
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally.
While light at night is essential in today’s world, when we over-light, fail to use timers and sensors, or use the wrong color of light, we negatively affect the nighttime environment.
The problem with bad lighting
Bad lighting at night not only disrupts the nighttime environment that plants, animals, and our communities depend on, it also reduces safety.
A growing body of evidence links the brightening night sky directly to measurable negative impacts on:
Learn about the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting at Night and assess the luminaires around your home.
The Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting at Night
The key to protecting the night is quality lighting. Lighting that follows the Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting at Night ensures it’s used only when and where it’s needed, and in ways that reduce light pollution and its harmful effects on the world around us.
Home outdoor lighting assessment
Using the worksheet below, assess the outdoor lighting on your property. Give each luminaire a score and record what actions are needed to improve them.
Replace or adjust problematic light fixtures to comply with all Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting at Night.
Replace or adjust luminaires
Now that you’ve identified the luminaires that need updating, it’s time to replace or adjust them to ensure each outdoor fixture complies with all five principles. Before you get started, first ask if the light is necessary. If it is not, consider removing the light altogether. Here are some additional tips…
Selecting adequate shielding
A quality luminaire does not allow light to spill into the sky. Choose a fully shielded fixture that directs light downward, no higher than 80 degrees from the nadir.
Choosing the right lumen level
Think about how much light you really need. For work areas like outside a garage, 300 to 800 lumens is usually enough. For pathways, 300 lumens or less will do the trick. Whatever the task, aim to keep the total lumen output below 1,000.
Using timers and sensors
Even if a luminaire is located where light at night is needed, we highly recommend placing it on a timer or motion sensor to ensure it is only on when needed. This has the added benefit of saving money.
Opting for warmer CCT’s
When choosing a luminaire or bulb for an outdoor fixture, select one with a warm or amber-toned correlated color temperature (CCT). We recommend 2700K or lower for the most night-friendly lighting.
If you must use bulbs with a higher CCT (such as 3000K), make sure they’re well shielded, used only when needed (with motion sensors or timers), and aimed carefully to avoid light spill.
Search DarkSky Approved products
Need help finding a light fixture that’s guaranteed to protect the night? Look for luminaires labeled DarkSky Approved! These products are officially certified by DarkSky International. Be on the lookout when shopping in retail stores or browse our online portal of approved products.
Recommendations for renters
We understand that there are some lights in your life that you may not be able to control. If you are renting, you may not be able to replace or adjust fixtures, however there are still measure you can take to protect the night. Here’s what we recommend…
Be mindful about when you use outdoor light
While you may not be able to change the fixtures around your home, focus on what you can control. Swap out bulbs for ones with lower lumens and a warmer color temperature, or set reminders to turn off porch lights before bed.
Have a conversation with your property manager
Start a conversation with your landlord or property manager about how quality outdoor lighting can improve safety and create a more welcoming environment. Talk with your neighbors and consider working together to advocate for positive changes.
Reach out to local officials
If you can’t adjust your lights at home, think about advocating for change at a higher level. Call on your local representatives to implement dark sky friendly lighting ordinances in your area, and use DarkSky resources to inform change.
Join the movement
Connecting with other DarkSky Advocates in your town or community is a great way to remain engaged in the mission and drive progress forward. It takes continued public awareness of the issues, ongoing policy conversations, and engagement with partners to keep our skies safe.
Once you’ve replaced or adjusted any problematic lighting, complete a final assessment and submit a photo!
Now that you’ve adjusted or replaced your outdoor lighting, take a final moment to review each fixture and ensure it follows all Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting at Night.
Once you’ve completed the review, continue with the photo submission and self-certification pledge below.
Ready to certify your home?
Submit photos of your lighting (optional)
We want to see your hard work! We’re always looking for great lighting examples to share with others. Use the link below to submit your photos—extra credit if they’re taken at night!
By submitting your photo, you grant DarkSky International a royalty-free, worldwide license to use, share, and publish the image in any format for educational, promotional, and nonprofit purposes. You confirm you own the rights to the image and that its use won’t infringe on anyone else’s rights.
Sign the Home Outdoor Lighting pledge!
Now it’s time to sign the pledge! This is the final step in this self-certification activity. By signing, you confirm that the outdoor lighting around your home is dark sky-friendly and pledge to continue protecting the night.
I pledge that my home protects the night by following the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting, reducing light pollution, and supporting a thriving nighttime environment for plants, animals, and people alike.
My outdoor lighting is dark sky friendly
Show your support
Dark Sky Friendly window decals
Once you’ve completed the activity, including the self-certification pledge, we’ll send you a decal to display in your window. It’s a great way to showcase your hard work and spark conversations about the importance of protecting the night.
Dark Sky Friendly yard signs are also available for you to print at home. You can view the designs here.
