What is Lighting?
Lighting is necessary for building occupants to perform tasks. Interior lighting typically uses 30-40% of a building’s energy consumption, making it one of the largest energy consuming systems of a building. Careful design of interior spaces can minimize the amount of artificial light needed when natural daylight is available.
How do we use it?
The ERC uses natural daylight to reduce electrical light requirements by 50%. Skylights cover the second floor offices, and 90% of regularly occupied spaces have a direct line of sight to the outdoors. When electric lights are needed, low mercury fluorescent or LED fixtures are operated and controlled by light level and occupancy sensors. The Continuum building automation system controls the lights to only operate when needed and allows individual control of lights by occupants through smart phones or their desktop workstation.
How does it make us more sustainable?
Only using electric light when we need it reduces energy costs, and avoids the consumption of raw materials for additional lights, ballasts and wiring. Day lighting also increases the productivity of our staff, who have a much more natural work environment than in a typical office. Minimized use of installed lights decreases maintenance costs, and reduces the amount of waste and processing required to handle these end of life products.