Keinovaloa

Keinovaloa is a Finnish term used to refer to artificial light, produced by electric or other non-solar sources. In everyday usage, keinovalo describes indoor and outdoor illumination that supplements or replaces natural daylight (luonnonvalo). The specific form keinovaloa is the partitive case of the noun keinovalo, and it appears in sentences describing quantities or conditions of artificial lighting, such as “keinovaloa tarvitaan illalla” (artificial light is needed in the evening).

Linguistically, keinovalo refers to the concept of artificial lighting, while keinovaloa serves as a grammatical form used within Finnish syntax. The term encompasses various types of lighting technology and applications, from residential and commercial interiors to street lighting and public spaces. In Finnish discourse, keinovaloa is often discussed in relation to light quality, color temperature, and energy efficiency.

Historically, artificial lighting has evolved from early gas and oil lamps to electric incandescent, fluorescent, and, more recently, LED technologies. In contemporary planning and design, keinovaloa is analyzed alongside natural light to optimize comfort, safety, and energy use. Policy discussions in Finland and other Nordic countries frequently address the balance between sufficient keinovaloa and minimizing light pollution, as well as the integration of smart lighting systems.

See also: natural light, daylighting, light pollution, energy-efficient lighting.