How can you design a sustainable lighting system for employee needs and energy efficiency?

1 Natural light

One of the best ways to design a sustainable lighting system is to maximize the use of natural light, which has many benefits for employees and the environment. Natural light can improve mood, alertness, circadian rhythms, and vitamin D levels, as well as reduce eye strain, headaches, and stress. Natural light can also save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as it reduces the need for artificial lighting and cooling. To optimize natural light, you can use strategies such as orienting the building to face the sun, installing large windows, skylights, and light shelves, using light-colored and reflective surfaces, and incorporating plants and greenery.

2 Artificial light

However, natural light alone may not be sufficient or consistent enough to provide adequate lighting for all tasks and situations. Therefore, you also need to consider the type, quality, and quantity of artificial light that you use in your workplace. Artificial light can be divided into three main categories: ambient, task, and accent. Ambient light provides general illumination for the whole space, task light provides focused light for specific activities, and accent light provides decorative or accentuating light for certain features or areas. To design a sustainable artificial lighting system, you should use energy-efficient light sources, such as LED, CFL, or halogen lamps, that have a high luminous efficacy (the amount of light produced per unit of power) and a long lifespan. You should also use light fixtures that are compatible with dimmers, sensors, timers, and controls, that allow you to adjust the light intensity, color, and direction according to the needs and preferences of the users and the availability of natural light.

3 Lighting design

When designing a lighting system for your workplace, you should consider more than just the light sources and fixtures. The overall lighting design, which includes the layout, distribution, and integration of the system, can affect the visual comfort, aesthetics, and functionality of the space, as well as its energy performance and environmental impact. To create a sustainable lighting system, you should use a layered approach that combines natural and artificial light sources and different types of light. Additionally, daylighting techniques such as daylight modeling, daylight sensors, daylight dimming, and daylight redirection can help to harvest and distribute natural light effectively. Lighting controls such as switches, dimmers, sensors, timers, and smart devices can also allow users to customize the light settings according to their preferences. Furthermore, lighting standards and metrics like illuminance, luminance, color temperature, color rendering index, and glare can measure the quality and quantity of light in the space. Finally, using energy-saving strategies like energy audits, energy codes, energy labels, and renewable energy sources can reduce the energy consumption of the lighting system.

4 Lighting evaluation

To ensure your lighting system is sustainable and meets employee needs and energy efficiency goals, you need to evaluate its performance and impact regularly. Lighting evaluation can identify and address issues such as insufficient or excessive light levels, poor light quality, glare, flicker, or color distortion. It can also monitor and improve the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of the lighting system. To evaluate your lighting system, use methods such as lighting surveys and audits that collect data on lighting conditions, energy consumption, and user satisfaction. You can also use lighting simulations and models to create and test different lighting scenarios or solicit feedback from users and stakeholders with interviews, focus groups, or online platforms. By following these steps, you can design a sustainable lighting system that meets the employee needs and energy efficiency goals of your workplace. This type of system can enhance the well-being, productivity, and comfort of employees while creating a more attractive, functional, and enjoyable workplace that reflects your values and vision.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?