LIGHTING INNOVATION: REDUCED SPILL
TECHNOLOGY FOR SPORTS FIELDS

In today’s urbanizing world, outdoor sports facilities often struggle with one key issue: light pollution. Uncontrolled illumination affects nearby homes, disrupts sleep, and fuels complaints. That’s where reduced spill lighting technology steps in.

In the Dutch village of Wildervank, this issue became very real. Local residents near the soccer club experienced excessive light entering their living rooms, despite the field being 80 to 150 meters away. The solution? 

AAA-LUX’s Reduced Spill (RS) lighting system.

What is Reduced Spill Lighting?

Reduced spill refers to lighting that is tightly controlled and focused only on the target area—like a sports pitch—while minimizing unnecessary light reaching neighboring properties or the sky.

Traditional lighting systems tend to throw light in all directions, but with AAA-LUX RS luminaires, beam angles are carefully engineered to provide optimal field coverage and drastically reduce light trespass. In Wildervank, 8 WS200 RS units with custom light shields were installed, resulting in near-zero spill light.

Compliance with Environmental Light Spill Standards

Light pollution is regulated by European standards such as EN 12193. These define acceptable levels for obtrusive light based on environmental zones:

.

Zone Description Max Light on Properties (lux) Upward Light Ratio (%)
E1 Nature Reserves 2 0%
E2 Rural Areas (like Wildervank) 5 5%
E3 Urban Areas 10 15%
E4 City Centers & Industrial Zones 25 25%

.

Thanks to Reduced Spill technology, Wildervank’s soccer club now operates well within E1 levels—surpassing the legal requirements for its E2 rural classification.

Seamless Control With InControl System

The installation included AAA-LUX’s intuitive InControl system—a graphical interface allowing users to control lighting at the touch of a button. Soccer Club Wildervank can now:

  • Switch lighting scenarios effortlessly

  • Integrate with future smart grid upgrades

  • Ensure energy efficiency without technical hassle

Why Reduced Spill Lighting Matters

Choosing a reduced spill lighting system benefits:

  • Communities – less intrusion into private homes

  • Clubs – full compliance with stricter regulations

  • The Environment – less sky glow, lower CO₂ emissions

  • Operational budgets – less energy waste, lower bills

Without Reduced Spill

Project Summary

  • Location: VV Wildervank, Veendam (NL)

  • Field: 1 soccer pitch, 4 light towers

  • Tech: 8 x WS200 RS with reduced spill

  • Control: InControl System

  • Illumination: 120 lux (training level)

With Reduced Spill

BACK TO NEWS