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Today we unpack the profound impact light has on our environment, health, and communities, guided by insights from Maria Dautant, a senior Associate at HLB Lighting Design. Maria is joined by cofounder of the VLD Community, Ingmar Klaasen, as they dive into the pressing issues of light pollution and light poverty, exploring the adverse effects of sky glow, glare, and light trespass. Maria emphasises the critical need for balanced lighting guidelines and the role of governmental education in making informed decisions that don't compromise human health or energy savings.

The conversation touches on the indigenous communities living without reliable electric lighting, discussing innovative solutions like seawater lamps and solar-powered devices. Traditional lighting methods such as kerosene lamps and torches come with serious safety concerns, but new technologies offer promising alternatives. Maria and Ingmar also uncover surprising insights about the global impact of light pollution, examining cities like St. Petersburg and Helsinki, and pondering the role of snow in their brightness rankings. From the benefits of LED lighting for energy savings to the challenges of preserving dark skies while addressing light poverty, this conversation is all about finding the right balance between efficiency and liveability.

For anyone who hasn't heard Maria Dautant's presentation on the topic of 'Light Pollution vs Light Poverty' in the previous episode, please do go back and listen to that, it's well worth listening to it right to the end. It'll add a lot of nuance and depth to the concepts touched on in this Q&A.

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