Officials said the proposed outdoor lighting guidelines promote best practices for reducing light pollution and limiting external lighting to what is necessary for safety and security.
According to the report, reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting could deliver environmental benefits by lowering emissions and minimizing negative effects on people and wildlife. It could also reduce energy consumption and household bills while helping protect dark skies for tourism and stargazing.
The report recommends using trees, fencing and other forms of screening to reduce glare from outdoor lights and limit the spread of artificial light.
Officials acknowledged that some communities choose to install outdoor lighting to improve safety and security.
Local authorities have previously said the Highlands’ vast, sparsely populated landscape provides astronomy enthusiasts with some of the darkest skies in Europe.
In 2024, Rum Island in the Highland Council area became Scotland’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, a designation awarded by DarkSky International.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk