sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Sustainable Lighting and Light Pollution

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 1590

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Laboratory of Lighting and Photometry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: indoor and outdoor lighting; road lighting; lighting for pedestrians; intelligent lighting; sustainable lighting; light pollution; sustainable use of electric energy

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment, Grenoble, 38400 Saint Martin d’Hères, France
Interests: health and environmental aspects of light and lighting in buildings and cities

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In today's world, the illumination of our built environment has become indispensable to modern living. But we often overlook the profound consequences of our illumination choices for both the natural world and human well-being. This dichotomy lies at the heart of the intersecting realms of sustainable lighting and light pollution. Sustainable lighting embodies a paradigm shift towards illumination practices that prioritize efficiency, environmental stewardship, and the preservation of natural darkness. From the widespread adoption of energy-efficient LED technologies to the implementation of smart lighting controls and the harnessing of renewable energy sources, sustainable lighting solutions offer a transition to a more environmentally responsible future. However, this journey towards sustainability is fraught with challenges, chief among them being the pervasive issue of light pollution. Spilled light, glare, and light trespass disrupt ecosystems, impair human health, obscure the stars, and diminish our connection to the natural world. Hence, the urgent need to address light pollution and promote sustainable lighting practices has never been more apparent.

We are extending an invitation to you to contribute to the upcoming edition of Sustainability with the subtitle "Sustainable Lighting and Light Pollution." As advocates for environmentally conscious practices and guardians of our nighttime environment, we believe your expertise and insights will greatly enrich this publication. Our aim with this magazine is to shed light on the crucial intersection of sustainable lighting practices and the mitigation of light pollution. By exploring innovative technologies, best practices, and policy initiatives, we seek to inspire meaningful change in how we illuminate our world while safeguarding the sanctity of our nightscapes.

We welcome contributions on a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Advancements in LED technology explore the latest developments and their role in reducing energy consumption and minimizing light pollution.
  • Urban Lighting Design discusses strategies for designing urban lighting schemes that prioritize sustainability, safety, and aesthetics while minimizing light spillage.
  • Natural Nightscapes Preservation has case studies and initiatives aimed at preserving natural nightscapes, protecting nocturnal ecosystems, and promoting a dark environment.
  • Lighting Regulations and Policies examines the effectiveness of lighting ordinances and policies in combating light pollution and promoting responsible lighting practices at all levels.
  • Human Health and Well-Being investigates the impacts of artificial light at night on human health, sleep patterns, and circadian rhythms and explores strategies for mitigating these effects through thoughtful lighting design.
  • Community Engagement and Advocacy highlights grassroots movements, citizen science projects, and public outreach efforts aimed at raising awareness about light pollution and empowering communities to take action.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Grega Bizjak
Dr. Christophe Martinsons
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable lighting
  • indoor lighting, outdoor lighting
  • needed lighting levels
  • intelligent lighting
  • use of electric energy for lighting
  • integrative lighting
  • light pollution
  • CCT for outdoor lighting
  • light pollution regulation

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

11 pages, 946 KiB  
Article
Using Light as a Medium to Convey Its Dark Side—A Light Festival Case Study
by Klaasz Breukel and Ellen Cieraad
Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6941; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166941 - 13 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1242
Abstract
The pervasive use of anthropogenic light at night has significantly increased the brightness of the night sky, which negatively affects human wellbeing, the ecology of plants and animals, night sky aesthetics, and astronomical observations. However, public awareness of light pollution remains limited. This [...] Read more.
The pervasive use of anthropogenic light at night has significantly increased the brightness of the night sky, which negatively affects human wellbeing, the ecology of plants and animals, night sky aesthetics, and astronomical observations. However, public awareness of light pollution remains limited. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an ‘eco-art installation’ in raising awareness about the impacts of anthropogenic light at night (ALAN). The installation, ‘Scope’, used light as a medium to convey the adverse effects of anthropogenic light at the Te Ramaroa festival in Nelson, New Zealand, which is held to celebrate light in the depths of winter. An online survey assessed the awareness of Nelson region residents, comparing responses between those who experienced the installation and those who did not, and assessing the self-reported knowledge increase after engagement with the installation. The findings indicated that eco-art installations can significantly enhance the public’s understanding of ALAN’s environmental and health impacts. The installation successfully increased self-reported specific knowledge about ALAN, with 92% of visitors reporting learning something new; however, overarching knowledge and levels of concern were largely similar between the groups. Emotional engagement was high, with 62% of viewers stating that the installation invoked an emotional response. While the study did not measure beha-vioural changes, 94% of festival participants found it at least ‘somewhat appropriate’ and 64% found it ‘very’ or ‘entirely appropriate’ to raise awareness of these issues at such events, suggesting a potential foundation for future action. This research underscores the promise of art–science collaborations in environmental education and public engagement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Lighting and Light Pollution)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop