The 3rd Forum of the Ximenez Foundation was the meeting point for analysing the new regulations of the Andalusian Regional Government and their impact on light pollution, under the slogan ‘Lighting up the future without leaving a trace: keys to the new regulations’
On Wednesday 18 June, the Ximenez Foundation successfully held the third edition of its Forum. This meeting brought together a large group of experts, technicians, institutional representatives and professionals in the field of lighting, with the aim of analysing in depth the impact of the new Andalusian regulations on light pollution and innovative solutions to move towards a more sustainable development model.
Throughout the presentations and panel discussions, the need to integrate technology and sustainability into lighting systems was highlighted. All agreed that the commitment to reducing light pollution is not only urgent, but represents an opportunity to transform the sector towards more responsible and environmentally friendly practices.
Sustainability as an institutional strategic axis
In charge of opening the forum was the delegate for Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy of the Andalusian Regional Government in Cordoba, Rafael Martínez, who thanked the Ximenez Foundation for its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. During his speech, he highlighted the recent approval of the Andalusian regulation aimed at combating light pollution, which was the result of a process that involved specialists, public entities and representatives of civil society. He stated that this regulation ‘places Andalusia among the pioneering regions in Europe in the protection of the night sky’.
In addition, the Mayor of Puente Genil, Sergio Velasco, highlighted the role of the Ximenez Group as a company committed to sustainability and reducing environmental impact. He highlighted the group’s ability to adapt to the new regulations and lead the change towards more sustainable lighting with the creation of Ecogreenlux. “Thanks to the Ximenez Group’s commitment to sustainable innovation, we now have decorative lighting that embellishes our spaces in a responsible and efficient way. Its commitment to low-consumption technologies, the design of elements that minimise light pollution and the use of recyclable materials within the framework of the circular economy make the company a benchmark in the transformation towards a more environmentally friendly model”.
For his part, the president of the Ximenez Foundation, Mariano Jiménez, began his speech by welcoming the audience and thanking them for attending with a clear and hopeful message: ‘It is possible – and necessary – to move towards a lighting model that is not only efficient, but also respectful of our environment and future generations’. He underlined the group’s commitment to the search for innovative and responsible lighting solutions, stating that ‘The fight against light pollution is no longer an option, it is a responsibility’.
Key challenges
The forum’s conferences began with a speech by Estefanía Cañavate, a technician specialising in light and noise pollution at the Andalusian Environment and Water Agency, who focused her speech on the main new features of the regulation and explained the keys to the new Decree 37/2025, of 11 February, which approves the Regulation on protection against light pollution in Andalusia. ‘This regulation represents a decisive step towards a more responsible management of artificial lighting in our territory’.
Later, continuing with aspects related to the new Andalusian regulation, David Galadí, astrophysicist and researcher at the University of Córdoba, gave a talk entitled ‘What is the spectral index G’, in which he went into detail on the innovative aspects included in this new regulation. ‘This regulation introduces for the first time the need to limit the amount of blue light emitted into the environment, and it does so in a rigorous way by means of the spectral index G’, ‘The G index offers a more objective tool, simple to calculate and compatible with the standards of both lighting engineering and astronomy’, he explained.
As a reflection of the Ximenez Group’s commitment to innovation from a sustainable point of view, the company has anticipated regulatory challenges with its own solutions to reduce the impact of lighting on the environment. As a reflection of this commitment, Ecogreenlux was born, a technology patented by Ximenez Group that allows efficient, creative and environmentally friendly lighting, thus anticipating the new regulatory requirements.
This was explained during his speech by Francisco Jaén, Ximenez Group’s Corporate Director of Operations, who explained how Ecogreenlux makes it possible to reduce light pollution by up to 93% and achieve energy savings of up to 60%, without sacrificing the visual impact or the artistic quality of decorative projects. ‘With Ecogreenlux we are demonstrating that it is possible to combine sustainability, efficiency and innovation in festive lighting design,’ he said, stressing that this solution not only meets current regulatory requirements, but also anticipates the future of the sector.
Driver of economic development
Later, the speeches ended with Jesús Graiño, urban lighting specialist at the Huelva city council, who focused his presentation on how decorative lighting not only represents an environmental transformation, but is also an economic driver. He explained that ‘well-designed lighting not only beautifies public spaces, but also stimulates commerce, boosts tourism and strengthens the identity of a city’, describing lighting as a development strategy and inviting city councils and public entities to consider lighting as a tangible return.
To conclude the forum, all the speakers were invited to participate in a round table discussion entitled ‘Lighting and Sustainable Tourism: challenges in the face of the new regulations on Light Pollution’, where the importance of moving towards a lighting model that respects the environment was highlighted, reaffirming that the fight against light pollution is a shared responsibility that opens the way to new technologies and sustainable practices. Thus, Ximenez Group continues to lead the commitment to illuminate the future… without leaving a trace.
