64 lighting & electrical A smarter future


HBD’s Jack Wooler takes a look at the current trends in lighting the UK’s homes, from smarter controls to the good-looking efficiency increasingly being delivered by LED.


innovation, the smartphone revolution has paved the way for the smart-home revolution. Residents are now able to easily monitor, control and secure their home through the convenience of their mobile phone or tablet. Lights, locks and appli- ances are being connected together and controlled by apps, and the Internet of Things (IOT) is start- ing to be a major feature in households. LED technology has truly revolutionised the


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lighting industry, providing a previously unattainable level of energy efficiency and longevity. With traditional light bulbs only offering around 12 lumens per watt with an estimated lifespan of 1,000 hours, LED is a major improvement, with output exceeding 100 lumens per watt with a potential for over 35,000 hours of use. Lighting Industry Association president Peter


Scott has commented that LED was “the immediate future,” and that “it may be 15 years or so before we see a significant shift in technology away from LEDs.” Explaining how the industry has responded, he said there had been “enormous investment in LED production plants,” allied to a rapid drop in LED chip prices.


“Smart lighting applications are already capable of mobile control and voice activated commands, and even artificial intelligence is starting to creep into lighting controls”


2017 is likely to be a year when efficiency


remains in focus. The Energy Saving Trust says that lighting was not previously seen as a high priority, representing less than 3 per cent of the annual overall energy use in homes. When the construction industry shifted its focus to addressing carbon emissions in recent years however, the mains-hungry nature of lighting forced a reassessment of its ecological impact.


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echnology is advancing at a faster pace than ever, and nowhere more than in the lighting sector. As part of this wave of


Despite the low proportion in terms of energy


use, in terms of running costs, lighting can account for around 15 per cent of an average home’s electricity bill. Switching to LED can significantly reduce electricity consumption however, a fact housebuilders are becoming increasingly aware of.


Smart control


Homes are getting smarter. A concept once belonging firmly in the realms of science fiction, people can now talk to their vacuum cleaners, remotely control their lights and even converse with their fridges. Samsung has predicted that our homes will soon become entirely ‘smart,’ envisaging that the IOT will even cover home medication and the food we eat. Smart lighting applications are already capable


of mobile control and voice activated commands and even artificial intelligence is starting to creep into lighting controls. As well as being able to switch off lights from the comfort of the sofa, sophisticated lighting systems now allow for extensive multi-room and remote controls, able to bring a property into the modern age. Because of the near-ubiquity of smartphones,


smart lighting setups are no longer exclusive to high-end developments. Besides a suitable phone, all that’s needed to add smart lighting controls to a residence are dedicated smart light bulbs and an accompanying app. Connected over wifi, users can remotely control their lights from anywhere with an internet connection. Luxury developments, as ever, are still able to


gain a distinctive edge. Cutting-edge smart lighting systems allow for detailed multi-room controls, able to dim, brighten and even change the hue of the lights across a home. These can often be automated, without the inconvenience of manually switching lights off. Futuristic, sleek touch-screen control panels can add an extra level of sophistication to a property. Comprehensive systems allow for extensive customisation, giving users control of every lighting circuit in a residence. Peter Scott said that in the future, the


majority of commercial members “won’t be supplying commodity type luminaries,” but that in order to prosper, they “will need to adapt to the need for more specialist products or add value through other features.” Citing “LiFi” and “smart-cities,” Scott made it clear that specifiers need to move with the times.


Adding ‘warmth’


Since LED has taken the lighting industry by storm, there is more choice available than ever. Aside from efficiency, it is important to consider aesthetics and the warmth light can bring to a room, or otherwise. In the middle of winter, prospective buyers will appreciate a warmly lit home. The higher a luminaire’s Kelvin rating, the harsher and more blue the light becomes and the lower the rating, the more warm and red it turns. Warm white, at around 3000 K, has become


the favourite across the board, and this is likely to continue. The perfect mix of visibility and warmth, warm white is best suited to kitchens and bathrooms. However, in order to a make a living area or bedroom truly feel like a sanctuary away from the world, an extra warm white at around 2700 K can be used. Cooler temperatures can often make a


property feel cold and clinical if not correctly chosen, but the right shade can add a modern ele- ment to a development. Cooler colours can also appear brighter than their warmer equivalents, meaning less lights may be needed, saving energy.


Seeing the light


Light is about far more than visibility within homes, it is a key part of the feel of their interior, and also has a big impact on energy efficiency. Smart systems can get owners ‘talking’ to their lights, putting them in control of precisely how they operate in their home for maximium effi- ciency. LED advances also now mean that specifiers can outfit a property in almost any style, while keeping its carbon footprint to a minimum. Enq. 187


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