A note - on the Kongsberg light strategy - project: Evidence based sustainable light strategy for Kongsberg municipality - fall 2023 (Part 1 of 2)

• Published in: Skriftserien fra Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge 2024
• Main Author: Røysamb, Are
• Format: Report
• Language: English

Based on United Nations data, in 1960 the rural population exceeded the urban population by about a billion individuals. However, forecasts suggest that by 2050, over two-thirds of the global population will reside in urban regions. Specifically for Norway, the UN projects that by 2050, more than 90% of its population will be inhabiting urban areas (United Nations, 2018) With urbanization follows electrical lighting. Traditionally light is used to enhances safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, greater usability of public spaces into the evening hours, supporting businesses and encouraging a vibrant nightlife, improve the overall aesthetic appeal of a city, encourage social interaction and community events, fostering a sense of community and belonging among residents, and enhance navigating through the city, especially for people with visual impairments, making urban spaces more accessible and inclusive. The use of artificial nighttime lighting has demonstrated detrimental effects on humans, plant life, and wildlife, resulting in sleep disturbances, heightened health hazards, and the disruption of natural ecosystems. In proximity to urban areas, the night sky some places have become hundreds to thousands of times brighter compared to two centuries ago. This is not sustainable! We hypothesize that the implementation of a value-sensitive tripartite iterative design method in Kongsberg's lighting strategy will result in more sustainable artificial and natural light usage practices, as it will foster a comprehensive understanding of stakeholders' values, enable the alignment of these values with lighting design choices, and facilitate an iterative process of refining and optimizing lighting solutions. This approach should ultimately lead to reduced energy consumption, minimized light pollution, enhanced well-being for residents, and greater harmony with the natural environment. Se også del 2: Lysstrategi - Kongsberg kommune: Analyser, tiltak og veien videre