UrbaSens Play: Simplifying Sustainable Sports Lighting
We recently launched our UrbaSens Play control system – it’s a groundbreaking solution for recreational sports lighting, designed with sustainability and flexibility at its core. This innovative system addresses the growing need for energy-efficient, adaptive lighting across sports facilities such as 5-a-side football pitches, athletics tracks, tennis courts, skate parks, and Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs). By delivering light only when and where it’s needed, UrbaSens Play strikes the perfect balance between optimal illumination and environmental preservation.
Mindful Sports Lighting
In Europe, 30% of light output is lost to light pollution, wasting €3.3 billion annually and releasing 21 million tonnes of CO₂. This environmental cost underscores the importance of solutions like UrbaSens Play, which reduce energy waste while enhancing user experience.
The system offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing facility managers to adjust light levels to specific sports and areas. Whether illuminating a single tennis court, part of a skate park, or a segment of an indoor MUGA, UrbaSens Play ensures energy-efficient lighting tailored to actual use. This not only minimises costs but also addresses the growing demand for sustainable lighting in sports.
Protecting Dark Skies and Local Biodiversity
Light pollution has far-reaching impacts, from disrupting nocturnal wildlife to obscuring the beauty of dark skies. The UrbaSens Play system, paired with best in class optics hardware, incorporates advanced control features that mitigate light spill, ensuring that surrounding areas remain unaffected by unnecessary illumination.
Our partnership with DarkSky International, has helped us focus on the system’s design and reflects a wider commitment to optical precision. Light cut-off, optimal installation, output scheduling, and zonal illumination help protect nocturnal ecosystems and reduce glare, fostering harmony between human activity and the natural environment.
Sustainable Lighting Meets Advanced Connectivity
UrbaSens Play is powered by Zhaga connectivity and an intuitive mobile app, providing an accessible platform for real-time adjustments. Users can:
- Group luminaires based on facility needs (e.g., tennis courts, football pitches).
- Control individual or multiple lights to match specific sports or training activities.
- Schedule illumination to reduce unnecessary energy consumption during off-peak times.
With its retrofit box option, existing DALI driver-compatible systems can easily be upgraded to UrbaSens Play, bringing smart controls to facilities without requiring a full overhaul.
Benefits Across Recreational Spaces
Outdoor Sports and Training Areas
UrbaSens Play optimises outdoor sports lighting by offering dynamic control that matches activity levels. This enhances energy efficiency while protecting the night sky.
Indoor MUGA and Sports Halls
In traditional setups, lighting is often binary—fully on or off. UrbaSens Play introduces zoning capabilities, allowing only the active areas to be illuminated, creating significant energy savings.
Skate Parks and Athletics Tracks
Presence detection ensures lighting activates only when facilities are in use, enhancing safety and reducing operational costs.
Championing Sustainability in Sports Lighting
UrbaSens Play aligns perfectly with global sustainability goals. By enabling energy reductions, the system helps lower carbon footprints and reduce operational expenses. Its emphasis on protecting dark skies and minimising ecological disruption makes it an essential tool for facilities striving to balance recreational needs with environmental responsibility.
Whether for professional training or casual play, UrbaSens Play delivers the ultimate in sports lighting innovation—bringing clarity to the field while preserving the beauty of the night sky.
To find out more about the UrbaSens Play control solution, you can download the controls brochure here. [URL https://www.thornlighting.com/en//products/controls-and-emergency-lighting/outdoor-lighting-controls/UrbaSens_Play ]