Sustainable Lighting and Light Pollution

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.