Lighting Design Considerations & Concepts - SitelogIQ

10 Lighting Design Considerations · Light Distribution and Brightness · Conservation of Energy · The Appearance of the Space and Luminaires · Glare ... HomeLightingDesignConsiderations LightingDesignConsiderations December14,2019 Apoorlylitworkspacecandiminisheventhemostbeautifullyconstructedoffices.Lightingdesignisavitalcomponentofanyworkspace,asitcaninfluenceproductivity,focusandtheopinionsofguestsandstaff.Bylearningsomeoftheprinciplesoflightingdesign,youcanmorereadilyoutfityourfacilitieswithlightsthatpromoteanefficientplaceofbusiness. Ifyou’veevertakenameetinginapoorlylitroomortriedtoworkinanofficewithharsh,flickeringoverheadlighting,youknowthedifficultiesoftryingtofocusinsuchanenvironment.Lightscanmakeorbreaktheproductivityofanentireoffice,andifyourbuildingisstillrunningonoutdated,harshorinadequatelighting,youmaybegivingoffthewrongimpressiontoyourvisitors.Yourlightinginfluencesthefaceofacompany,andifyouwantpeopletoseeyouasamodern,progressivebusiness,youneedlightingdesignthatreflectsthosevalues. 10LightingDesignConsiderations Lightscanseemlikeasimpledecisionifyoudon’toverthinkit,butwhenyouconsiderallofthedifferentaspectsthatgointomakingaworkspacewell-lit,youseejusthowcomplicatedtheprocessmaybe.Hereareafewlightingdesigntipsandconceptstoconsiderwhenchoosingofficelighting: LightDistributionandBrightness ConservationofEnergy TheAppearanceoftheSpaceandLuminaires Glare TheAppearanceofColor LightingControlandFlexibility LightingofFaces CostofImplementation Installation Maintenance 1.LightDistributionandBrightness Daylightisafantasticresource,butyou’llhavetothinkabouthowitwillinteractwiththeartificiallightinsideyourbuilding.OnestudyconductedbyAlanHedgeofCornellshowedthatworkersinofficeenvironmentswithoptimizednaturallightsawan 84%decreaseinsymptomsofeyestrain,blurredvisionandheadaches.Theseareallsymptomsthatdetractfromproductivity.Sodoesthatmeanyoushouldgetridofalltheartificiallightingandjustinstallgiantwindows?Notexactly.Windowsaredefinitelyaworthwhiledesignchoice,butyoualsohavetoaccountfortheadverseeffectsofnaturallight.Theseinclude: Varyingamountsofcloudcoverorinclementweatherthatreducetheamountoflightavailable Unwantedheatdrivingupthetemperatureincertainareas,causinginconsistencythroughouttheofficeand“thermostatwars” Glareoncomputerscreensorworkspaces,makingitdifficultoruncomfortabletogetworkdone Oneapproachistoinstalloptimizedwindowsthatcanadjusttintandadapttoreduceglare.Thesewindowsofferthesatisfactionandproductivitybenefitsofnaturallightwhilecombatingtheissuesthatmakeitchallengingtouseinanofficespace. Otherproblemswithlightdistributionincludeaccentortasklightsthatinteractwiththeambientlightyou’vechosenfortheroom.Someofthesecancauseglare,particularlyacrosscomputerscreens,ortheycanbeusedtoaddsufficientlighttoadimroom.Howeveryouusethem,you’llhavetobeawareofthewaythattheyinfluenceotherlightsourcesinthearea. Anotherconsiderationforlightdistributionandbrightnessisexteriorlightingandsecurity.ExteriorlightingmustbephotometricallydesignedtobeaboveILPSecuritystandards.Thisaidsthenighttimesafetyandsecurityofemployeesworkingat24/7facilities. LearnAboutOurLEDLightingSolutions 2.ConservationofEnergy Manyolderlightingdesigntypes,likeincandescentsandfluorescents,consumecomparativelyhugeamountsofenergy.Intraditionalincandescentbulbs, 90%oftheenergy theyemitisgivenoffasheat,makingthemaverywastefuloption.ChangingbulbtypestomoreefficientLEDscanbeoneofthebestwaystosaveenergy,whichisgoodforboththeenvironmentandyourbottomline.LEDstandsforlight-emittingdiodes,andtheyworkthroughaprocesscalledelectroluminescence,whichgenerateslightasanelectriccurrentpassesthroughasemiconductormaterial. LEDshaveseveralbenefitsthatmakethemtheidealchoiceforanofficeenvironment.Theyare: Moreefficient: LEDscanuseanywherefrom 25to80%lessenergy thantheirincandescentcounterparts.Thesesavingsoffersignificantreductionsinoperationalcosts.Comparetheannualenergycostforalightbulbusedfortwohoursadayat11centsperkilowatt-hour.Fora60-watttraditionalincandescent,theyearlyenergycostis$4.80,buta12WLEDwouldonlycost$1.00. Longerlasting: LEDlightsalsosavemoneythroughreplacements.Theycanlastupto25timeslongerthantraditionalincandescents,whichalsoreducesmaintenanceneeds. Cooler: Withalowerheatoutput,theselightsaresaferandhelpyoumaintainyourdesiredtemperaturewithoutaddedwarmth. Dimmable: Colorsarevariedandflexible,allowingforlightingthatcanadapttoyourneeds.ThecolorrenditionofLEDbulbsisexcellent,soyourofficecanlookjusthowyouintended. Youmayneedtoupdatesomefixturestoworkwiththeseenergy-efficientoptions,butitisaworthyinvestmentthat SitelogIQcanhelpyouwith.Don’tforgetthatusingnaturallightcanhelpreduceyourdependencyonindoorlightinginthefirstplace. 3.TheAppearanceoftheSpaceandLuminaires Withallthistalkofefficiencyandlightinteractions,wecan’tforgetaboutthephysicalappearanceofthelightfixtures.Lightingdesigntypesshouldbeaestheticallypleasingandmatchthefeeloftheofficespace.Luminairesrefertodifferentlightfixturesandincluderecessedfixtures,directandindirectpendants,under-cabinetlighting,wallwashlights,sconces,andtasklighting,amongothers.Effectiveluminairecombinationscancreateexpertlylitareas. Thoughhighlyfunctional,lightsarestillitemsthattakeupspaceandcan,therefore,bedecorativestatementstoo.Afloorlamporpendantcouldbeauniquepieceofartthataddscharacterandcharmtothespace.Ontheotherhand,lightscanbehiddenorrecessed,sotheyfeelnaturalandunobtrusive.You’llhavetoconsiderhowyouwantyourfixturestolookandwhatimpactthatwillhaveontheenvironment. 4.Glare Thereareafewdifferenttypesofglare,includingdirectandreflectiveglares.Directglarereferstotheviewofalightsource,typicallyinhighcontrasttoitssurroundings.Lampsandsunlightcancauseit.Reflectiveglareisalittlemorechallengingtodealwith,asitcomesfromitemsweworkwith,likeglossypaper,desks,andcomputerscreens.Reflectiveglaremeansyou’llneedtoconsiderthesurfacecolorsintheroomaswellasthediffusionofthelightsources.Mattewallsandsurfacesmayhelptoreducereflectionglare,whileindirectlightingcanhelpreduceglarefromthelightsthemselves. Creatingglare-freeworkspacesisacomplicatedundertaking,buttheexpertsatSitelogIQarewell-versedinthistaskandcanmakenecessarysuggestions.Glarecontrolisparticularlyimportantinanofficeenvironment,asitcandistractpeoplefromtheirworkinaplacewherefocusisvital. 5.TheAppearanceofColor Ifyouaskpeoplewhatcoloralightbulbemits,manyofthemwillsay“white,”butthereisactuallymuchmoretothecoloroflightthanthat.WhitelighthasacolortemperaturemeasuredinKelvins.TheKelvinscalemeasuresblackbodyradiation.Oddlyenough,whatweconsidertobewarmcolors,likereddishhues,arelowerintemperatures,andcoolcolors,suchasblue,arehigherintemperature.Belowisthetypicalrangeofcolortemperatures. Warm: 2700Kto3500K.Thisrangewouldincludethecolorofasunset. Neutral: Around4000K. Cool: Above4700K.Thiscolorresemblesabright,sunnyday. Thesedifferentcolortemperaturescanhavevaryingphysiologicaleffectsonpeople.Warmlights,forinstance,arecozier,andoftenmakepeopleeatmore,sotheyareusedinrestaurants,butcouldalsoworkwellinabreakroomorlobby.Coolcolors,ontheotherhand,mimicnaturaldaylightmoreclosely.Rememberallthosebenefitsthatworkersgetfromnaturallight?Theyapplytocoollightstoo.Theycanincreasetheproductivityandserotoninlevelsofworkers,helpingtoboosttheefficiencyoftheentireoffice. 6.LightingControlandFlexibility Withacomprehensivelightingsystem,youmayneedalittlemorethanalightswitchtocontrolthemall,especiallyifyouareusingsmartoptionswithsensorsorautomaticresponses.Manymodernsystemscanworkwirelessly,whichisespeciallybeneficialforretrofittingorforbuildingswithhard-to-wireareas.Wirelesscontrolscanbeplacedalmostanywhereandmovedorexpandedasneeded. Onecommonlightingcontrolmethodistoinstalloccupancysensorsthatwillautomaticallyturnonyourlightswhenemployeesarepresent.Thisapproachsavesenergysinceitturnsoffwhennotinuseandevenoffershands-freeactivation. Anothertypeofsensorthatisparticularlyusefulforlocationswithheavydaylightingisaphotosensor.Youcanusephotosensorstodetecttheamountoflightpresentinanareaandadjustordimthelightsaccordingly.Sensorscangoonwalls,ceilingsorwithinlightsandvaryinsize. Inrecentyears,theabilitytochangethelightsourcecolorhasalsobecomeanoption.Youcanchangethetemperatureofwhitelightorevenaddboldcolorsifyouwant. Byimplementingalightdesignwithflexibilityinmind,youallowyourselftoadaptandchangetheenvironmentatwill.Youcanreduceglareoradjustthebrightnesstomatchdifferentfunctions,suchaswatchingapresentationonascreenorhostingameeting.Someemployeesmayfeelmoreawakewithbluelight,whiledesignersmightneeddimlightstoseetheircomputerscreensbetter.Allowingthemtoadjusttheirlightsastheyseefitcanhelpimproveemployeesatisfactionandproductivity. 7.LightingofFaces Lightsinfluencemorethanjustthebrightpartsofanoffice—theyalsoaffectthedarkparts.Somestylesoflightingincreasethepresenceofshadowsandofferthemselvestodramaticlighting.Wecanthankdirectionallightsourcesforthesethree-dimensionaleffects. Diffusedlightcreatesevencoveragethatismostlyfreeofshadows.Whileitmaybevisuallyrelaxing,alackofshadowscanleadtodifficultyidentifyingedgesandchangestoasurface.Itremovesdistinctioninafigure.Blendingdirectandindirectlightcanofferevenambientlightingwithdirecthighlightstocertainareasoftheroom,likeapresentationspace. Someplacesinanofficeneedmoredefinitionthanothers.Inameeting,forexample,ithelpstoclearlyseethefaceofthepersonpresentingandtheinformationtheyneedtoshowyou.Inmuseums,pointsofinterestmayreceive upto10times theambientlightleveltohighlighttheitem.Notablefeaturesordisplaysmayrequireextralightinginyourfacility,aswell.Considerwhereyouneedclearlydefinedlightingwhendevelopinganofficespace. 8.CostofImplementation Whileyouconsideroverhaulinganentirelightingsystem,theassociatedcostssurelyhaven’tescapedyourmind.Someofthecostsinvolvedinclude: Equipment Installation Design Maintenance Energy Environment OnebenefitofhiringalightingdesigncompanylikeSitelogIQisthecostsavingsitoffersduetoanall-in-onestrategy.Whetheryouwanttoincreasetheuseofdaylightorinstallintelligentlightingoptionsthroughoutafacility,SitelogIQcantakecareofeverythingwithaturnkeyapproach.Ourexpertteamcanhelpfindtheidealcombinationofefficiencyandsavingsandfindlow-costoptionsthatsaveyoumoney.Westartbyidentifyingwaystominimizewasteandfindopportunitiesforhighreturnsoninvestment. Weknowenergy,andwecanmaximizeenergysavings,loweringoperationalandmaintenancecosts.Wecanalsofindrebatesandotherbenefitsthatapplytoafacility.Ourconsultationshelpusdeveloppersonalizedplanstocalculateandmeettheneedsofyourbusinesswithprofessionaldesignservices.Ourservicesdon’tendafterinstallationeither,asweprovideenergybenchmarking,utilityrateanalysisandoptimization,andcustomenergydashboardstokeepyoursystemrunningeffectively. 9.Installation Theinstallationprocesscanvarywidely,butonethingisforsure—ifyouopttoorganizeyourlightingsystemyourself,you’llneedanelectricianandmaybeacontractortoo.Thatmeanssearchingforqualifiedworkersandthebestrates.Byusingaturnkeyenergyserviceprovider,youcanpassuponthispartoftheprocessandfocusinsteadonkeepingyourbusinessmovingsmoothly. 10.Maintenance Togetthemostoutofyourlightsystem,you’llneedtomaintainitproperly.Forsomelightoptions,maintenanceisnomorecomplicatedthantakingoutabulbandreplacingitonceithasbecomedimorgoneout.Othersrequiretheexpertiseofspeciallytrainedprofessionals,includingITpersonnelandelectricians,tocareforthemcorrectly. Youcancutdownonmaintenancecostsbypurchasingequipmentthatrequireslessworktokeepupwith,likeLEDbulbs,whichhavelongerlifespans. Oneotheraspectofequipmentlifetoconsideristhewarranty.SitelogIQcanhelpyoufindequipmentwithlong-lastingwarrantiestoensureitstaysworkinglongafterweleavethesite. LearnAboutOurLEDLightingSolutions AdvantagesofLendingProjectDesignResponsibilitytotheExpertsatSitelogIQ WhenyouleaveyourprojectdesignresponsibilitytotheexpertsatSitelogIQ,you’llseeavarietyofbenefits.Professionalenergyconsultantsareatyourfingertips,readytohelpdevelopyourprojectwithyearsofexpertise.Itcanbecomeoverwhelmingformanagerstohavetodealwithorganizingthevariousaspectsofagoodlightingsystem,butwecanhandleitinstead. Whetheryou’reretrofittinganoldoffice,addingmoreefficientlightingoranyotherlightproject,ourteamofprofessionalscanworkonthewholeprocess.Withturnkeysolutions,wecantakecareofcrunchingnumbers,designinganewsetupandinstallingtheequipment,whileyouspendthattimekeepingyourbusinessrunningsmoothly.TolearnmoreaboutwhatapartnershipwithSitelogIQentails,checkoutour commerciallightingsolutions. RecentPosts Long-TermFacilityMaintenanceinK-12Districts SitelogIQReceivesAccreditationfromNAESCOasEnergyServicesProvider CreatingEquitableLearningEnvironments ESGandRetail:Howsustainabilityisshapingthewayshoppingcenterownersadapttomarketchanges BenefitsofRetro-CommissioningYourBuildings CategoriesCategories SelectCategory Energy FacilitySupport GovernmentAffairs Lighting News Uncategorized ContactUs