Protecting Wildlife with True Amber LED Lighting

Protecting Wildlife with True Amber LED Lighting

Thousands of sea turtles and other wildlives are affected every year because of the electric lighting along beachfront properties and coastlines around the country. According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC), 90% of sea turtle nesting in the United States takes place on Florida beaches. For more than 20 years, the organization has worked to tighten the guidelines on beaches where property owners are restricted to amber light sources when visible from the beach to avoid the hatchlings disorientation.

At Moonleds, it is our responsibility to minimize one of the major ecological disturbances on the declining sea turtle species and other wildlives: light pollution. We have developed turtle-friendly leds that include low wattage phosphor converted amber (PCA) and true amber limited wavelength LEDs (590nm) in different led packages such SMD LED 3535, EMC SMD 5050, SMD LED 3030, Power LEDs etc. 

WHY AMBER LEDS?

Research has shown that sea turtles are less affected by lighting within specific wavelengths. Long-wavelength lighting such as Amber LEDS are less disruptive than white light. Typical area and site lighting producing white light contains higher blue content and can confuse baby hatchlings who rely on moonlight to guide them toward the water. In a 2000 STC study at Gulf Islands National Seashore, 45% of the nests hatched were disoriented by the lights from the neighboring shoreline buildings. Amber LED sources that are low-glare and properly shielded help minimize this confusion. 

TURTLE-FRIENDLY LIGHTING THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), turtle-friendly luminaires must limit short wavelength light under 560 nanometers.The table below shows the amount of energy emitted at each wavelength for a typical 5000K LED source showing significant energy (36% of total) emitted below 560nm which is highlighted in blue. Our turtle-friendly amber sources limit this short wavelength energy by producing more light above 560 nanometers (nm), which is the requirement for a long-wavelength light source. 

Our PC Amber LED Spectrum is with very low blue portion less than 0.5%. See more product details. EMC PC Amber 5050 SMD LED 24V and 6V.

Chip emitting narrow band wavelength True Amber LED Spectrum. SMD LED 3535 True Amber SMD LED.

MAKING THE CHOICE BETWEEN PHOSPHOR COATING VS TRUE AMBER

While phosphor converted amber is more efficient, true amber limited wavelength is the only light source that meets the strictest legislative requirements in certain municipalities. At Moonleds, we offer both amber technologies to provide a perfect lighting solution regardless of where you live.