Upper Austria goes dark

Street lighting to be switched off at night

In future, street lighting in Upper Austria will be switched off at night (symbolic image).

(Bild: RECO/stock.adobe.com)

It will soon be dark in Upper Austria's municipalities! As of May 1st, street lights are to be switched off from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. if safety permits. According to Environment Minister Stefan Kainder (Greens), this makes Upper Austria the first federal state to actively combat light pollution.

On May 1, the amendment to the Upper Austrian Environmental Protection Act with additional paragraphs on light protection will come into force. This makes it the first federal state to "take active action against light pollution", said Stefan Kaineder (Greens), State Councillor for the Environment, on Wednesday. Public lighting hours in the municipalities are generally limited to six to 10 pm. "However, it will remain bright in places where people are present," the state councillor clarified.

The main premise is that in future, only as much light as necessary should be lit at night so as not to endanger safety on the roads. With this in mind, the municipalities are now called upon to set binding, needs-based operating times in the respective streets.

Old systems are being retrofitted
In addition, public lighting must only have a warm light color that is gentle on the environment and health and the maximum beam angle of the lanterns must not exceed 70 degrees. These requirements will apply to all new lighting systems in public spaces from May; old systems must be converted by 2029.

In doing so, we are making a key contribution to permanently reducing the negative effects of artificial light and thus protecting the environment.

Landesrat Stefan Kaineder (Grüne)

The decision as to whether streetlights are switched off or dimmed is ultimately made by the municipalities themselves - federal highways or urban highways are excluded due to jurisdiction. Kaineder believes that the municipalities are very interested in saving energy. Until now, however, they have lacked the legal certainty to dim the lights. This has been created with the amendment to the law.

Evaluation in two years
The nocturnal landscape has now been recognized as a "protected good" in Upper Austria, he said, pleased about a first step in the effort to combat light pollution, the careless use of artificial light. In two years, it will be evaluated whether the law actually brings darker nights and thus "more restful sleep for people" and safer living conditions for nocturnal animals.