Addressing Light Pollution With Energy Savings
The DLC’s Light Usage for Night Applications (LUNA) requirements establish criteria for using the highest quality outdoor lighting at night – lighting that minimizes light pollution, provides appropriate visibility for people, and limits negative impacts to the environment. In addition to the benefits that appropriate lighting can provide to our outdoor environment, there are also energy savings to be captured by only using the right type of light, and only where it is needed.
LUNA sets performance requirements for specific categories of outdoor solid-state lighting so that energy efficiency programs, cities and municipalities, and all outdoor lighting decision makers can be confident that their selections save energy AND follow best environmental practices for nighttime lighting.
LUNA Policy Development
The Light Usage for Night Applications (LUNA) Technical Requirements have been developed with careful consideration for its impact on industry, environment, and end-users. We tap market experts, manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders to help establish verified, trustworthy requirements to keep the lighting industry at the forefront of carbon reduction efforts. LUNA requirements development follows the DLC’s 6-step process to craft comprehensive criteria that address the needs of our energy efficiency program members and industry partners alike.
LUNA V2.0 has been combined with SSL V6.0 and the final policy was released on November 3, 2025. The DLC accept LUNA V2.0 applications when policy is effective on January 5, 2026. Please view and download all policy documents from SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0
| Version | Status | Effective Date | Update By | Delist Date | Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final November 3, 2025 | January 5, 2026 | October 9, 2026 | December 15, 2026 | View Technical Requirements | |
| ACTIVE | April 4 2022 | Aug 14, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | Download PDF |
Further Reading
Learn more about the effects of light on nighttime environments.
- [Webinar] Responsible Lighting at Night: Bridging the Inequality Gap – DLC
- Emphasizing Quality and Control of Light at Night – DLC
- Our Nights are Getting Brighter, and Earth is Paying the Price – National Geographic
- Designing Quality Lighting for People in Outdoor Environments – ANSI/IES LP-2-20 Illuminating Engineering Society
- Environmental Considerations for Outdoor Lighting – ANSI/IES LP-11-20 Illuminating Engineering Society
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