LIGHTING & LIGHTING CONTROLS Outdoor lighting more than just illumination
Essential for safety and security, outdoor lighting is a key element of any building design. But with soaring energy prices, emissions targets and light pollution objectives to meet, building managers must ensure that effective schemes go beyond simply providing illumination. Dominic Harkness, lighting designer at Ansell Lighting explains more
E
xterior lighting is an important feature of any property, essential for
enhancing visibility whilst also heightening
safety and security. From façades to footpaths, car parks and entrance ways, exterior lighting encompasses a variety of different spaces, all of which have individual requirements that require careful thought and planning. But uniting all outdoor lighting schemes together are the issues of energy efficiency and light pollution; two factors that require vigilant consideration by lighting designers and building managers during the design and specification process. With energy costs at an all-time high and organisations focussed on reducing carbon emissions, energy consumption and costs, the emphasis on these issues has never been greater and is set to continue to heighten as we move towards Net Zero 2050.
The very first step in any outdoor lighting scheme is to consider the purpose of the installation, which will have a huge impact on the overall choices made. Exploring why lighting is needed and what function it is expected to achieve will help to focus an array of decisions. For example, those lighting installations that are purely a design feature will require a completely different specification to those concerned with safety and security.
The next steps are then to consider the individual spaces that require illumination and the appropriate product specification. It is here that properties such as energy efficiency, glare ratings, durability, automation and interoperability must be added into the mix.
If energy use and light pollution
are to be reduced, the fittings and systems chosen must serve that purpose and be controllable, intuitive and measurable. Installing products embedded with smart technology will deliver the most controllable and energy efficient solution available and can help to reduce lighting energy use by up to two thirds. Enabling numerous luminaires to be linked together and controlled, smart lighting systems allow different scenes, groups and schedules to be created as required. This means that external lighting can be set to come on automatically at the end of the working day for example or colour temperature can be programmed to become brighter during the late afternoon as natural day light begins to fade. Scheduling time of use, output levels and colour temperatures will all ensure optimum energy use and will eliminate any reliance on human intervention - reducing the risk of users accidentally leaving the lights on and wasting energy. One important caveat of installing smart lighting outdoors is to check the WIFI coverage first. If there is not sufficient coverage then a WIFI extender can be used. Products with either photocell or motion sensor detection technology will also help to optimise energy use. Floodlighting, street lighting and bollard products are often fitted with this technology, enabling the luminaires to turn on as either daylight reduces or motion is detected and off as morning light brightens or stillness resumes. They are convenient, low maintenance options that require almost no human intervention once installed. A huge benefit for facilities managers and other individuals
concerned with the running of public properties is that smart technology is measurable. Recent advances in equipment mean that many smart lighting solutions now come with dashboard controls which can accurately measure lighting energy usage in real time, giving a clear view of lighting-based energy consumption data across one building or an entire portfolio. This allows usage to be accurately evaluated and opportunities to reduce unnecessary use to be identified. For a system to be truly efficient,
interoperability is key. This means creating an environment where different systems and devices work
together seamlessly to deliver a truly efficient, controllable and measurable lighting scheme. Previously this had been difficult to achieve as different lighting systems and devices used different communication protocols, making it difficult to integrate them into a single system but there are now a handful of options widely adopted across the industry that ensure different devices and systems can communicate with each other. Zigbee and Bluetooth mesh are two popular choices. There are many options available for building operators to achieve lower energy use and improved efficiency but what about the issue of light pollution?
Light pollution is a huge problem in today’s world. Caused by excessive artificial external illumination, it is contributing readily to climate change; harming global ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Often unnecessary, much of the lighting we use at night is too bright, ineffectively shielded and badly directed but by following best practice design principles, this can be prevented from occurring. Designs should ensure that any lighting installed is useful, targeted, low level, easy to control and of the right colour. Products that reduce glare and light pollution are also a must. To make this easier, The Dark Sky Association (IDA) has launched its Fixture Seal of Approval accreditation. Awarded to products that feature advanced lens technology and enhanced glare control design, it acknowledges those luminaires that will produce minimal levels of light pollution. Overall, external lighting is an important aspect of commercial building design and operation, as it can improve safety, compliance, visibility and aesthetics. And, if done well, can reduce the impact on the environment and energy bills.
20 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2023 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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