Sustainable lighting is a broad subject. While reducing energy consumption may be the most straightforward way to understand how sustainability and lighting may go hand in hand, there are several other factors to be considered when selecting a product or brand to work with. Eco-friendly logistical practices, ethical sourcing, and responsible product planning for a circular economy are also major considerations to factor in when selecting a sustainable lighting partner. If you are planning a space, check the tips below to ensure your lighting scheme is conscious of sustainable lighting practices.
Eclipse Projector © Erco, www.erco.com
01 - USE HIGH QUALITY LEDS
LED solutions should need no introduction at this point, but as a general refresher, LED technology uses 75% less energy and lasts 25x longer than traditional incandescent lighting.¹
In addition, light should only be used where it is needed, and any additional spillage beyond this is wasteful energy consumption. Utilising quality LEDs with high beam precision ensures light is aimed efficiently at targetted surfaces and reduces wasted light. Aiming light properly, especially in outdoors applications, is also important in reducing the amount of light pollution in our atmosphere.
02 - INSTALL A DIMMING SOLUTION
One of the easiest ways to reduce energy consumption and save money on energy costs is installing a dimming control. Dimming lights to 50% of full capacity can bring down powers costs by 40%² , and greatly reduce the amount of energy otherwise wasted.
In addition to the practical features of dimming, the added control over a space introduces scene control for ambient and visual comfort purposes.
3D Printed Lights made from recyclable polycarbonate © Philips Lighting, www.philips.com
03 - USE LAMPS MADE FROM SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
Lighting fixtures can be designed with sustainability by utilising recycled, repurposed, or renewable materials. Given the number of recycling technologies available, there are many options on the market for sustainably designed lighting fixtures.
3D Printed lighting takes it one step further, by introducing an entirely green lifecycle. 3D printing requires less energy and materials than traditional die-casting for lighting. With printing centres in several locations across the world, ensuring fixtures are produced locally reduces Co2 emissions used for long transportation. In addition, the lightweight polycarbonate material further reduces the energy consumed for transportation. Altogether, this product range can reduce Co2 footprint up to 75%.³
04 - SELECT BRANDS THAT COMMIT TO A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
Selecting vendors that have clearly defined sustainability goals and a commitment to manufacture responsibly is an easy way to do your part in supporting transparency in the lighting industry.Keep an eye out for brands that transparently outline their product development plan, follow international guidelines for responsible manufacturing, and employ green logistical practices in their supply chain model.
Astro Lighting's circular product development cycle © Astro Lighting, www.astrolighting.com
Sources:
¹ https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/led-lighting#:~:text=LED%20is%20a%20highly%20energy,times%20longer%2C%20than%20incandescent%20lighting.
² https://www.electricrate.com/data-center/dimmed-lights/
³ signify.com/en-us/innovation/3d-printing
