Unconventional methods to inform sustainable lighting design: Mediating the needs of people and nature in Nordic after-dark environments

Urban developments are growing, and related design has evolved by putting human needs and interests first. Developing in a sustainable way requires to balance our needs with the needs of nature.

Education and policymaking play crucial roles to inspire responsible practices, however, concrete data and knowledge are necessary to inform policy development.

In a broader context, one focus area particularly relevant in Nordic countries is the use of electric light in after-dark outdoor environments, and the impact it has on flora, fauna, and energy use, as well as human behaviour and wellbeing. Our project strives to develop new knowledge crucial to design for sustainability in the urban after-dark.

Our strategy is to bring relevant disciplines together with representatives from design, technology, psychology and ecology to:Investigate the topic of sustainable after-dark design in a holistic way that minimizes energy use, light pollution, and negative impacts on wildlifeSupport innovation within each discipline involved and generate evidence for sustainable, research driven design practices and policymakingCollaborate with organizations and municipalities for evidence-based application and practiceFoster awareness about the interaction between human and wildlife in urban lighting conditionsDevelop methods for an interdisciplinary, more-than-human-centric design approachDevelop digital tools to support researching, designing, planning and simulating more-than-human-centric lighting