BUILD FOCUS: REFURB & RETROFIT
BUILD FOCUS:
REFURB & RETROFIT
As we collectively ‘build back better’, the question fundamentally becomes; which area should we invest in first? Miguel Aguado, Marketing & Technology Manager at Lutron, explains why smart lighting systems are a great starting point for “dramatic and effective change” as we follow the Government’s net-zero-by-2050 path.
Universality
MIGUEL AGUADO IS MARKETING & TECHNOLOGY MANAGER AT LUTRON
RETROFITTING: LIGHTING A PATH TO NET-ZERO BUILDINGS While technology and consumer behaviour continue to evolve at an ever-increasing speed, the UK built environment remains stuck in the past. According to the UK GBC, 80% of the buildings that we will be using in 2050 have already been built, making our building stock the oldest in the developed world, says Miguel Aguado, Marketing & Technology Manager at Lutron. LUTRON
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hese buildings contribute 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint, half of which derives from the energy used in buildings. Concurrently, waste from construction, demolition and excavation represents a staggering 59% of total UK waste. These statistics, when considered together, add some much-needed clarity to the quest for net-zero by 2050. Clearly, the decarbonisation of our existing buildings must be the top priority. Unintrusive, smart building technology represents one of the greatest winwin investments for Governments, businesses and individuals. By embracing its benefits, we can see both cost savings and carbon reductions. Lighting, due to its ubiquity, cost-saving ability, positive impact on productivity and wellbeing, as well as safety, must be the first port of call for retrofitting activities in the years to come.
Lighting the way While COVID-19 has changed the world, our priorities remain the same, if not more urgent, as all Governments, businesses and individuals come under pressure to become more efficient, sustainable and resilient. As we collectively pull to ‘build back better’, the question fundamentally becomes; which area should we invest in first? Buildings represent the greatest opportunity for mass improvement, with smart lighting systems as the prime candidates to bring about dramatic and effective change. FC&A – JULY – 2021
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Firstly, and perhaps most crucially, wherever there are buildings, there are lights. They are the most ubiquitous and intrinsic building technology, fundamental to their performance. Therefore, a single piece of legislative change could have a sweeping impact on the overall energy efficiency of our buildings. The universality of lighting must make it the clear first choice for action.
Efficiency Over recent years, we have tangibly seen the impact of LED lighting. Indeed, in the journey to net zero, efficiency has been more effective than reducing carbon emissions. Energy-efficient lighting installations can easily realise savings of more than 50% over legacy technology. However, the sensing and communication capabilities of lighting systems provides benefits that are far greater than the sum of its parts. Add presence detectors, daylight linking, timeclock events and personal control, and the impact can be upwards of an additional 60%, over the energy savings already provided by LED lighting.
Productivity On average, in a commercial building, energy accounts for 1% of the total cost to the business, while the running of the building itself accounts for 9%. The remaining 90% is devoted to the people and the accumulated knowledge and skills that make a workforce productive. Lighting has a greater impact on employees than any other building technology, helping productivity and overall wellbeing. Smart lighting control takes our lit environment a step further. Combining data from lighting systems with that from additional sources (including weather, time of year etc.), they can unlock even greater benefits to building operations and provide a better setting for users. Through the collation of data, we are moving closer to the perfect lighting environment.