City under Microscope Stavanger
Highlights
From sustainable smart lighting to the magic of light: a digital experience of Stavanger
Over 300 participants came together online for a unique insight on the urban lighting strategy of the City of Stavanger (Norway) on 18 – 19 March 2021.
- Urban planners, lighting designers & city employees from 40 countries, with 52 cities officially represented
- 24 speakers in 4 sessions & exclusive Coffee Bre@k for LUCI members
This first-ever fully online City under Microscope gave attendees an interactive digital tour of the city. Participants joined an immersive experience with “walk & talk” sessions with local experts showing them around Stavanger and its urban lighting projects – from a quick drive around Stavanger’s smart city pilots, through a leisurely walk through the illuminated city centre at night.
The event was opened by Iselin Nybø, the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry (left), and Kari Nessa Nordtun (right), Mayor of Stavanger. They briefly introduced Stavanger and underlined the importance of light for the city’s development and future.
A city at the forefront of smart solutions to tackle climate change
Stavanger is the third largest metropolitan area in Norway and has been known has the “Energy Capital” of the country due to its strong links to the oil industry. Today, the city has chosen to address climate change head on, with the goal of becoming carbon neutral in 2040, according to Leidulf Skjørestad, Director of Urban Environment and Development for the city.
This ambitious objective is made possible by prioritizing the use of green energy and focusing on smart city solutions. For instance, Eimund Nygaard, CEO of municipal utility company Lyse, explained that the city chose very early on to build hydropower stations in the neighbouring fjords.
With Gunnar Crawford, Head of Smart City Stavanger, and Trond Thorbjørnsen (Lyse), participants also got to discover the smart technology solutions implemented in the city, such as smart poles and EV charging stations.
Finally, while the city is looking towards the future, it has also preserved and built upon its heritage: for instance, old lamp designs were kept but fitted with modern, energy-efficient LEDs, as explained by Hanne Windsholt, Head of the Cultural Heritage Management Office.
A balancing act: considering the impact of light on human health and nature
A standout topic that generated much interest and discussion was the challenge of lighting green spaces while respecting biodiversity. Torgeir Sørensen, Parks and Roads Manager, presented the framework specifically developed by the city for the lighting of parks and trails.
The illumination of green trails in Stavanger’s many surrounding natural areas encourages people to go outdoor during the long dark winter months, as shown by Anne Katrine Lycke. However, this attractivity can be a double-edged sword: the immense success of these initiatives has led to more demand for light. Speakers such as Arne Follestad spoke of the necessity to conduct more research on the impacts of artificial light on nature and biodiversity, and to educate and raise awareness about light pollution.
Finally, participants were also introduced to an exemplar case study: the illumination of a nature walk around a small island located in the north of Stavanger, by Arve Olsen of LightBureau.
Fostering community spirit in the LUCI network
On Thursday, LUCI members enjoyed an exclusive session with Claus Petersen (Stavanger) & Ingvild Abrahamsen (Lyse) for a behind-the-scenes look at their challenges and visions for the future of lighting in the city.
To reinforce the community spirit, an interactive quiz was the chance for participants worldwide to enjoy a fun moment together and test their newly acquired knowledge of Stavanger’s lighting projects. Louis Poulsen and Signify provided the prizes. Congratulations to the winners!
Finally, the City under Microscope Stavanger was the opportunity to announce our next event: the LUCI Annual General Meeting, which will take place in Tartu (Estonia).
Watch or re-watch the event
LUCI members will soon be able to watch videos & presentations made during the conferences in the LUCI Hub
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