Smart lighting concepts for company premises: saving energy and protecting nocturnal wildlife
Artificial light at night disturbs many animal species: insects are drawn to illuminated areas, bats avoid brightly lit zones, and birds can lose their orientation. Light pollution also affects humans, contributes to sleep disturbances, and unnecessarily increases energy consumption.
By implementing thoughtfully designed lighting concepts, companies can improve their environmental impact while cutting energy costs. Effective measures include installing motion or time controlled lighting, directing light towards the ground, choosing warm white, insect friendly LED lights, and reducing unnecessary lighting on parking areas, building façades, or advertising displays.
Through holistic lighting management, businesses can reduce expenses, maintain adequate safe conditions, and contribute to lowering light pollution at night.
The following sections outline the key steps to consider during planning and implementation
Green roofs and façades – creating habitats, protecting the climate
Green roofs and façades provide significant benefits to biodiversity, climate protection, and building efficiency. Simple green roofs with sedum plants are low‑maintenance and provide a valuable habitat for insects, while more diverse plantings with herbs and shrubs can create richer and more valuable biotopes.
Green façades deliver comparable environmental benefits including cooling buildings through evaporation, storing CO₂, filtering fine particles, and enhancing the local microclimate.
In addition to ecological benefits, green areas also provide economic advantages: they extend the lifespan of roof membranes, increase building efficiency through additional thermal insulation, and can be combined with solar installations.
Green buildings are generally also perceived as more attractive, healthier, and modern, offering added value for employees. When combined with rainwater retention measures, green roofs also contribute to reducing flood risks.
The following article outlines the key steps to consider during planning and implementation.
