How we are trying to reduce light pollution in Denmark
What is missing is a way to recognize companies and individuals who reduce their light pollution, even if they are not located in a place with a low level of light pollution.
The international organization IDA, based in the USA, certifies larger areas with a low degree of light pollution.
We are working to be able to issue certificates for a successful effort against the emission of light pollution, and signing a declaration to maintain a low level of light pollution.
We work to map and reduce light pollution in Denmark, through a citizen effort that results in certifications for the areas that can reduce their light pollution. There can be bronze, silver, and gold classification, depending on the level of light pollution and how much it is relatively reduced compared to previous measurements.
Members can borrow SQM devices, or use specially designed apps on the phone, so you can make an assessment based on that. Possibly. can photos with a specific camera setting be used.
We would like to make it possible to get small areas certified, e.g. a village, a business, or perhaps even down to a single home.
The purpose is to reverse the development that started with the invention of electric light, and to change the negative meaning of the word "darkness" in relation to "enlightenment". At night, darkness is positive.
Light pollution in Denmark is increasing all the time, by around 8% annually.
So the more people who can be certified with a classification of the quality of darkness and a quantification of the relative improvement they have made, and be proud to get paper on it, the better for the main goal, to reverse the trend and reduce light pollution.
Of course, the certification must not be watered down so that anyone and everyone can get a certificate. It requires changes to existing lighting, measurements and documentation, and areas are classified based on the measurement results.
We are now gathering partners who would like to contribute to reducing light pollution in this way, and who can contribute with different skills.
Dark Sky Denmark
Everyone can get started right away, even a small village. You can get a certificate for reducing your own light pollution, even if you are in an area with high light pollution. Dark Sky Denmark provides help and advice on how best to reduce light pollution. Loan of SQM appliances App for measurement and reporting The more areas that achieve a status, the better Fast process
We believe that the creation of Dark Sky parks around, as tourist magnets, does not serve much purpose outside of the individual small area, except to bring a little more attention to the problems.
This despite the fact that we have been involved in the creation of a Dark Sky park on Møn, and work with it on a daily basis, talk to hundreds of visitors here, and help with the creation of other Dark Sky parks in Denmark.
It is absolutely not a competitor to IDA that we want to set up, but an organization that will be able to certify and award improvements, even if the light level is still too high for other forms of certification.
We will lend measuring devices, collect measurements from apps, and by enticing with certificates (which are linked to the current figures for light pollution in the area) get a continuous monitoring of the light pollution. Otherwise, it is impossible to get measurements made everywhere.
As it is right now, there is only very sporadic measurement of light pollution around Denmark. We would like to change that by allowing members to borrow equipment and get help to reduce their own and others' light pollution.
On Møn, we have got a lot of companies and products that use "Dark Sky" branding, but do not in any way contribute to or reduce their light pollution. As it is now, there is no way to get a certificate that a company has reduced its light pollution, and no way to make demands on them.
So one of our purposes is also to be able to give a stamp of approval to the companies that want to brand themselves with "Dark Sky". It should be a requirement that the company has actively done work to reduce their own and others' light pollution, in order to be certified as "Dark Sky friendly".
