INTEGRA Bespoke Lighting Systems

Minimizing impact is the key when installing any kind of outdoor lighting in Muskoka. The whole concept behind preserving dark skies started with Muskoka’s impressive star-gazing vistas but nowadays, it has gone even beyond that. Lighting needs to have low impact on the environment and on neighbouring properties, yet also needs to be safe and effective for various uses. As more development happens around us, lighting is starting to impact whole communities and Muskoka municipalities are looking at ways to minimize these impacts. For example, dark-sky friendly lighting may be required on new developments.

What can each individual homeowner do about light pollution? The first thing is to look at one’s own property from an objective point of view. Go out in the boat or over to the neighbour’s property and take a good look at your property. You might be surprised to discover you are as brightly lit as your neighbour!

The next thing to look at is how to eliminate glare and over-illumination. The simplest step is to install dimmers on your outdoor lighting – that way you can adjust the light level for each particular use. A second technique is to aim your lights downward – at the path or laneway. Many people have floodlights under the eaves aimed out, and often use a higher wattage bulb than necessary. That causes glare, which is annoying for neighbours and allows ‘light trespass’ where you end up illuminating your neighbour’s property as well as your own. Instead, look at aiming the light down where it’s actually needed.

Looking at your outdoor lighting as a ‘system’ – matching each component with your needs for each area – is how a lighting consultant can help. They will look at the specifics of your property and the way you use it in order to create an efficient, glare-free, light pollution-free system. Consultants apply their expertise to your property – such as how a mulch path needs more light than a granite path and steps need yet a little more. The result is the right amount of light exactly where you need it and the overall effect is subtle, soft, glare-free and with no light waste. Your neighbours will appreciate these efforts and you will be surprised at how much of a difference it makes on your own enjoyment of your property.

INTEGRA Bespoke Lighting Systems has been designing and installing outdoor lighting systems in Muskoka since 1999 and has completed more than 550 projects to date. We’re saving Muskoka’s dark skies one property at a time.

INTEGRA Bespoke Lighting Systems
James Solecki
582 Stephenson Road 2 East
Port Sydney, Ontario
(705) 385-3000
[email protected]
integralighting.com