Beijing Strictly Restricts Light Interference in Residential Areas; Residents Can File Complaints About Light Pollution by Phone

　  The Specifications propose to prohibit the use of powerful searchlights and high-power floodlights in landscape lighting, and to set strict rules on light interference affecting residential buildings, apartments, hospital wards and other buildings.
In addition, if residents are troubled by light pollution from street lamps or advertising neon lights, they can call the management department to report it.
Illuminance must be reduced after 23:00
The Specifications require that landscape lighting design fully take into account the surrounding environment. Landscape lighting facilities around residential areas must not affect residents' normal rest, and the brightness of luminaires facing rooms should be controlled.
When installing landscape lighting around motor vehicle roads, LED luminaires must not be directed toward drivers' lines of sight.
The Specifications also set specific values for the maximum vertical illuminance on windows of residential rooms and hospital wards and other buildings, and for the maximum luminous intensity of light sources directly visible from indoors. The limits on the street-facing side of residential areas are slightly more lenient than those on the non-street-facing side. With 23:00 as the dividing line, the illuminance and luminous intensity standards before 23:00 are about three to five times higher than after 23:00.
Landscape lighting not advisable for rare trees
Regarding the impact of light pollution on animals and plants, the Specifications also require that landscape lighting should avoid interfering with animals' routines and plants' normal growth, and that landscape lighting should not be installed for rare trees.
Decorative bulbs installed on trees should have a single-lamp power of less than 1W, and it should be confirmed that the surface temperature of the bulbs is lower than the temperature that would harm the trees or affect their normal growth.
Beijing residents with suggestions on the Specifications can submit feedback to the Municipal Commission of City Administration and the Environment by email or fax before August 28.
　Reminder
For dazzling neon lights, call 96310
When residents encounter light pollution, they can complain to different departments according to the nature of the light pollution source.
If the light pollution comes from large neon lights, billboards and other advertising light boxes, residents can call the urban management service hotline 96310 to report it. The urban management department will coordinate with businesses in accordance with relevant regulations to standardize the brightness of lights and their on/off times.
If residents live too close to street lamps and the lamps cause light pollution, they can call the Beijing Municipal City Lighting Management Center at 67601234.