Samso – a dark sky island #2 | Interreg Europe - Sharing solutions for better policy

About this good practice

By project Night Light

Published on 19 December 2018

Denmark

Hovedstaden

Through an ELENA funded project the municipality of Samsø has
analysed the street lightning in the central village of Tranebjerg (population:800) in order to assess whether the lighting should be replaced with more environmentally friendly light sources.
Based on the ELENA report the municipality has just decided to replace all mercury based light sources with LED lighting in the whole village.
Furthermore, the street lightning will be shut off in the period between 24 -06

This project is expanded and are now implemented on the whole island of Samsø, and all public street lighting are now shifted to LED and are turned off 6 hours during the night.

Expert opinion

The importance of the preservation of dark skies, as well as the reduction of light pollution due to its impact on biodiversity and ecosystems is not sufficiently recognized at local level. This practice is a positive step in this regard and is about saving energy by using proper lighting technology and addressing light pollution at the same time. Tested as a pilot action in a village, the approach was successfully adopted by other villages located on Samso island in Denmark. The practice can serve as an inspiration for other local authorities motivated not only to use more environmentally friendly technology for improving street lighting system but also to raise the awareness of the citizens about the increasing loss of natural darkness and the need to take action.

Venelina Varbova

Resources needed

2.855.000 DKK (380.000€) Paid back by energy savings

Evidence of success

The project expanded from one village and are now implemented on the whole island of Samsø, and all public street lighting are now shifted to LED and are turned off 6 hours during the night. Try to be a role model showing how to save energy and diminishing of light pollution in a village – inspiration to other villages throughout Denmark and project partners

Potential for learning or transfer

The learning from this practice are that our focus now are at a long-term goals in different policy instruments, and to keep the awareness on the increasing loss of natural darkness which has a negative impact on biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as on the quality of nature and the environment, which is a major part of what Samsø is known for, and making the island an attractive destination for visitors. Samso has a very strong position in Denmark as a role model when it comes to green transition and green policy making in general. That puts a strong national attention on the activities that Samsø are involved in. The reasons why other regions could adapt this good practice is, besides the finansiel benefits of saving energy and money, a short payback period and a longer lifespan of the lighting, is by long term planning to get better quality of light and also prevent light pollution and set a good example for the citizens of the region, when they install new light at their homes.