Espoo Central Park acts as the city's lungs, boasting over a thousand hectares of contiguous green space. The park offers residents the chance to exercise, move, and breathe amidst nature. The area is also home to a diverse array of nocturnal animals—such as bats, hedgehogs, and owls—whose habitats are significantly affected by artificial lighting.
This creates a problem, as standard LED lights contain blue wavelengths. While the human eye does not consciously perceive this, the light disrupts the circadian rhythms of many animal species.
The Greenled Amber nature lens, that was selected into Espoo Central Park, filters out virtually all blue light; this keeps the lighting effective for humans while being significantly more nature-friendly for animals, allowing them to maintain their circadian rhythms undisturbed.
"The Amber lighting developed by Greenled and Ledil makes it possible to keep the lights on throughout the night. It is a simple yet globally unique solution with significant environmental impacts," states Erika Ketola, an outdoor lighting expert at Greenled.
With this renovation, the route in Central Park will be illuminated throughout the night. The new lighting will also be nature-friendly for the area's animals, enabling them to maintain their natural daily rhythms without disruption.
This specific section of Central Park has previously lacked night lighting entirely. Thanks to the upgrade, the route will be safely illuminated throughout the night without compromising biodiversity. This opens up new possibilities for residents, allowing for jogs early in the morning or late in the evening. In the future, outdoor routes can be used safely every day of the year. During the night, the lighting intensity will be dimmed by 50%, which contributes to cost savings.
Espoo is known for its commitment to sustainable choices. The city’s goals emphasize the preservation of biodiversity and ecologically responsible urban planning. The lighting solution soon to be implemented in Central Park is a concrete example of how technology and environmental values do not need to be in conflict.
"It has been important for us to find a solution that combines safety, usability, and respect for nature. The new lighting solution is energy-efficient, pleasant, and adaptable," says Emil Kaila, Traffic Engineering Manager responsible for lighting at the City of Espoo.
The new fixtures will serve the people of Espoo for several decades, while the local wildlife can continue their lives without stressors. The new lighting in Espoo Central Park is a prime example of how public lighting can take both people and the environment into account. Espoo is one of the cities set to lead by example in combating unnecessary light pollution and building sustainable lighting infrastructure.
Photo credits: Emil Kaila, City of Espoo.