Reducing the carbon impact of lighting

The embodied and operational energy associated with a lighting scheme can be significant, says Simon Robinson to be switched off. The Society of Light and Lighting’s publication Code for Lighting (2022) includes a schedule of recommended task illuminances.

A more effective way to reduce energy consumed by a lighting installation is to avoid over-specifying the level of illuminance it is intended to deliver in the first place. Then, limit its use through appropriate control to those times when it is needed.

Balancing energy use and occupant experience

Balance needs to be struck between providing good-quality lighting and the energy a scheme uses. It would be relatively straightforward to design a lighting scheme to minimise energy use by simply illuminating a task area and nothing else. But such a scheme would ignore the health and wellbeing of occupants.

An effective lighting design will incorporate localised task lighting combined with background lighting of the walls and ceilings. The same approach holds true for the provision of lighting for home working. Office use has changed and home working now constitutes a part of many workers’ lives. Of course, the issues associated with occupational health and energy use are just as important when working at home and so good lighting is important.

LG7 provides guidance for those creating a home office or converting rooms such as bedrooms into offices. As energy costs have risen significantly and the need to consider the environmental impact of how we use energy are important factors, LG7 discusses the optimisation of available daylight, the correct placing of the user’s desk and how décor changes can help.

ROBINSON is author of the CIBSE Society of Light and Lighting Guide 7: Lighting for Offices

For more information on Lighting Guide 7 please visit cibse.org