| |
Effective, Energy-Efficient Lighting for Offices
In the twenty first century, offices have become diverse and varied working environments in which people perform a wide range of tasks. Therefore, lighting must be designed carefully to facilitate their work, enhance their visual abilities, and provide a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment. Studies have shown that when lighting is effectively designed to meet the needs of office workers their performance and productivity will improve, they will need to take fewer breaks from their tasks, and their feelings of comfort and well being will be enhanced.
In order to help assure that a lighting installation provides the benefits listed above, there are a few important issues a contractor must keep in mind when developing a lighting design:
- Choose fixtures that limit direct and reflected glare. The Small
Commercial Lighting Program has developed a measure that will help a
contractor select fixtures that reduce or eliminate glare (uncomfortable
brightness) and reflections on computer screens. Glare not only
makes tasks more difficult to see but also contributes to eye strain,
visual fatigue, and headaches. Many manufacturers have designed lighting
fixtures (typically referred to as "high-comfort") specifically for
office spaces. Choosing these types of fixtures can help assure
that a lighting installation will be well accepted by office workers.
- Make sure that lighting fixtures are properly spaced. Installing lighting
fixtures too far apart, unevenly, or too far away from walls will lead
to an offices that is not uniformly lighted. A contractor should
be very careful to install fixtures in accordance with
manufacturer-recommended "spacing criteria." This will differ for
each type of fixture and is very important in assuring that the lighting
is not too bright in some areas and too dim in others.
- Provide light on the ceiling, walls, and other vertical surfaces. Whenever
possible a contractor should select lighting fixtures and develop
lighting plans that provide light on the ceiling, walls, and other
vertical surfaces in an office. This helps to make a space feel
brighter and also helps cut down on peoples' eye strain because their
eyes will not need to constantly adapt or adjust to wide variations in
brightnesses as they look around the room throughout the day.
Lighting fixtures that are suspended from the ceiling (often called
"indirect" or "pendent mounted" lighting fixtures) can be very effective
in "bouncing" light off of surfaces and making them appear evenly
bright. If ceiling-recessed fixtures (for example "parabolic
troffers") are used, be sure to space them close enough to walls that
their light can "wash" down the wall as evenly as possible.
- Integrate and Control Daylight. When daylight is introduced into the work
space, make sure that workers have blinds or shades that can be closed
if windows become too bright or if they have direct view of the sun.
- Use Controls Wisely to Maximize Savings. Photosensors, occupancy sensors, and even manual dimmers can potentially yield significant energy savings. They are most successful when installed with the occupants' convenience and comfort as the foremost concern.
The guidelines, tools, and resources included in this sections will help contractors select and install lighting systems in offices that are effective in meeting the needs of people, while reducing the energy used for lighting.
Design Guides
Case Studies
Reference Guides |
|
|
