Jul 23, 2025
LSI is DarkSky Compliant
At LSI Industries, lighting innovation goes far beyond aesthetics and performance. It reflects a responsibility to the environment and the communities we serve. That’s why LSI proudly aligns a variety of our products with the mission of DarkSky International, supporting a shared vision of sustainable outdoor lighting that minimizes light pollution without compromising safety or visibility.
Our lighting systems are engineered not only to illuminate spaces efficiently, but to do so responsibly. By building sustainability into every fixture we design, LSI helps preserve the natural nighttime environment.
What Is DarkSky Compliance?
DarkSky International advocates for smarter lighting that supports human health, protects wildlife, and restores the visibility of our night skies. To earn the DarkSky approval, lighting must meet strict criteria in several key areas:
- No Uplight:Â Fixtures must emit no light above 90 degrees from the horizontal plane, preventing unnecessary skyglow.
- Directional Control:Â Light should be directed only where it is needed, avoiding unnecessary illumination of surrounding areas. For sports lighting applications, at least 85% of total lumens must be directed downward toward the intended target area.
- Glare & Spill Control:Â Ensure that light sources are not directly visible and cause discomfort or temporary blindness. Prevent light from shinning upwards into the night sky or spilling onto neighboring properties.
- Uniformity:Â The average illuminance on the targeted area must not exceed 10% above the average target illuminance level.
- Spectrum Requirements:Â Fixtures must have a maximum correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3000K, minimizing blue light and reducing skyglow.
- Smart Controls:Â Lighting systems should include appropriate controls, such as motion sensors, timers, and dimmers to help ensure that lights are only used when needed and at the appropriate intensity.
- Certification:Â Areas like sport courts & fields, parks, and communities can be certified by DarkSky for their commitment to dark skies and responsible lighting practices.
These standards ensure that outdoor lighting delivers both functional value and environmental stewardship.
How LSI Supports DarkSky Principles
LSI has long been a leader in American-made lighting that meets the evolving needs of architects, municipalities, and developers. Our DarkSky-ready products reflect a deep-rooted commitment to innovation, sustainability, and application-driven design. We work to support this initiative by designing lighting solutions that align with these guidelines, all while maintaining safety and visibility. Our commitment to DarkSky principles helps reduce light pollution, protect ecosystems, and improve human well-being, ensuring outdoor spaces support long-term environmental and community well-being.
Here’s how LSI meets and exceeds the requirements:
- Mitigate Uplight and Glare:Â Our fixtures feature a wide variety of specially engineered optics that can eliminate uplight or the need to tilt luminaires. The result is significantly reduced glare and environmental impact, preserving visibility of the night sky while maintaining high-quality lighting.
- Targeted Light Distribution: LSI’s high precision optics direct light where it is needed for maximum efficiency and minimum waste. Less waste results in less spill light and lower luminaire outputs for maximum energy savings and return on investment. Multiple shielding options allow light to be further contained to exactly where it’s needed, avoiding light trespass and enhancing visual comfort.
- Compliant Color Temperatures:Â We provide a variety of CCT options that are at or below the 3000K maximum required for DarkSky certification on most of our outdoor luminaires. We even offer true turtle amber solutions that eliminate blue light emissions and support ecological preservation.
- Smart Controls with Airlink™Blue: Our in-house wireless control system, AirLinkTMBlue, includes Bluetooth® and motion sensor integration, enabling remote access and responsive lighting management ensuring light is used only when necessary.
Lighting That Protects More Than Property
For communities seeking to preserve their night skies, reduce environmental impact, and meet stricter zoning regulations, LSI offers a complete portfolio of compliant products backed by U.S.-based manufacturing, faster lead times, and responsive project support.
Whether you’re illuminating a city park, university campus, parking lot, or resort entrance, LSI helps you meet sustainability goals while enhancing comfort, safety, and visual appeal. With every fixture we build, we’re proving that responsible lighting can still be powerful, purposeful, and beautiful.
To learn more about LSI’s DarkSky compliancy visit lsicorp.com/lighting/darksky/.