The UK Dark Skies Partnership (UKDSP, ukdarkskies.org.uk) has published a new guide to improving sky quality by reducing unnecessary and inappropriate light pollution through behavioural change, education and the promotion of environmentally sensitive lighting.
The Society of Light and Lighting is part of the partnership, a collaborative forum of UK dark-sky places, including those with international Dark-Sky Association designations; relevant professional organisations; the Commission for Dark Skies; CPRE, the Countryside Charity; and the Institution of Lighting Professionals.
They support the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group of MPs for Dark Skies, co-chaired by Andrew Griffith MP and the Astronomer Royal, Lord Rees (appgdarkskies.co.uk).
In developing a lighting guide, the group hopes to address local need to landscape impact. Providing advice on domestic and non-domestic lighting, the document:
●Describes the mindset of environmental/dark skies awareness when installing exterior lighting
●Sets basic principles of lighting to a dark-sky standard
●Signposts existing standards, guidance and advice where needed and appropriate.
You can access Towards a dark sky standard – A lighting guide to protect dark skies: from local need to landscape impact at TOWARDS-A-DARK-SKY-STANDARD-Accessibility-Version-1-1.pdf.aspx (cibse.org)