REMEMBER LIGHTING QUALITY When Designing Efficiency-Driven Retrofit Projects By George McIntyre
It’s no secret that commercial electricity rates continue to rise. A combination of energy usage and increased demand charges has caused a sharp rise in commercial energy bills. Lighting can often be the largest user of electrical energy, accounting for up to 40 percent in a commercial building. That’s why there’s been a hyper-focus within the commercial and industrial sectors on pursuing energy-efficient lighting solutions. This has been especially evident with the advent over the past decade of LED lighting and digital controls, which have proven to deliver significant energy savings compared to conventional lighting.
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Energy Solutions Manager, Acuity Brands
case. Lighting solutions can realize both energy efficiency and lighting quality in areas such as visual comfort without making compromises. Here, we will explore how to provide high-quality lighting for a retrofit project while still obtaining exceptional lighting efficiency.
What is Lighting Quality?
The good news is today’s lighting solutions deliver exceptional energy efficiency. The not-so good news is, during this aggressive pursuit to maximize energy savings, some key lighting fundamentals, especially around lighting quality, have unnecessarily taken a back seat. This does not have to be the
Where lighting efficiency refers to the amount of light produced by a lighting system in relation to the amount of energy it consumes, lighting quality refers to the overall appearance and functionality of the lighting system. It takes into consideration factors such as color rendering, color temperature, glare, flicker, and uniformity. A lighting system that factors in quality of lighting can enhance the visual appeal of a space, help improve productivity, and even impact the mood of the occupants in a space.
Certain factors might be more important than others, depending on the project. For a retail space, a high CRI is of particular importance.
A warm color temperature and uniform light create an inviting, comfortable atmosphere at the Tin Building by Jean-Georges in NYC.