Workplace lighting
November/December 2020
DESIGN-LED FUTURE Ellen MacArthur broke the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2005. Her bravery and talent to overcome the challenges are a given, but the journey gave her an insight. All the supplies to successfully complete a roundthe-world sailing race were loaded on to her boat before setting sail – there would be no opportunity to gain more resources after that, they would just have to be used wisely. Her insight was that our planet is the same: our resources are limited. She went on to launch the influential Ellen MacArthur foundation in 2010 promoting the progression to a circular economy. The logical way to release further energy savings is to move to a delivery efficiency focus, in other words a design-led approach where target task light levels are focused on the desk, with visual comfort guaranteed by pro-rata lighting of the floor, walls and ceiling. Purpose-designed schemes lend themselves to correctly zoned and commissioned control systems, ensuring that the lighting is only on when and where needed. A net zero carbon building is a highly energy efficient building that is fully powered by on-site and/or off-site renewable energy sources and offsets. Unpacking the first half of that definition, the lighting system must minimise carbon in both construction, operation and whole-life cycle. Carbon is emitted, and energy and raw material resources are embodied into a light fitting at manufacture, delivery and installation. Following the principles of the circular economy, this embodied energy and resources can be used more efficiently by lengthening the useful operating life of the fitting – short working lives have the opposite effect.
SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT THAT WORKS End clients are calling for a net zero ‘label’ for their investments and nobody is investing in non-green schemes, but many are not yet ready to embrace what true net zero actually builds out as and there will likely be resistance. We must therefore offer practical ways to build that better future, which fit with the corporate objectives of all stakeholders in the building supply chain. The guidance below
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suggests how the developer can move further towards net zero carbon buildings and be cost neutral while delivering a higher quality space, all the time observing circular economy principles, reducing waste and improving sustainability. If we do fewer CAT A fit-outs we’ll achieve more of these things. The GRESB comments '… forwardthinking organisations identify the linear economy as a risk to their bottom line and as such are changing their business models to reduce exposure by adopting [Circular Economy] CE principles. However, it is a challenge to remain competitive when faced with prevailing economic structures, regulation and standards serving short-term linear business models.' The following attempts to meet that challenge, working within the industry’s commercial interests while delivering improvements in low carbon performance, circular economy compliance and waste reduction, and comfortable and effective office lighting: 1 Minimise any barriers to letting – build out a show floor with finished zones displaying different lighting and ceiling options. The rest of the building is core and floor, the capital expenditure saved from the CAT A scheme is held in an escrow ‘pot’ and is offered back to tenants to create their fit-for-purpose ceiling/lighting scheme. 2 Developer win – they deliver client choice and can be demonstrably greener when letting. 3 Contractor win – the tenant scheme could still be delivered by the main/ electrical contractor so no work is lost, plus the potential exists to upsell. 4 Agent win – while the agent still has the show floor to demonstrate a lit space, they can also now let and sell spaces that are more environmentally responsible and potentially more aligned to the WELL standard, which many clients are now asking for.
5 Tenant win – they gain a purposedesigned scheme to suit their organisation. 6 End user win – the lighting for their task is designed for them and their task, so it will be more suited to their job and will typically be healthier. 7 Planet win – no CAT A fit-out bar the demonstration zones.
THE FUTURE So let us imagine that our post-COVID office is not just smaller, but now better designed and better lit for its use, and is sustainable both in its operation and in its procurement. But what might it look like? The Swedish government is already questioning the ubiquitous recessed 600 x 600 LED panel as a source of bland and visually uncomfortable spaces. Research shows that most space users prefer direct-indirect schemes and some control over their space. Moving the lighting design on from an overly simplified task surface allows more consideration of lighting for people. A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, and keeping products and materials in use. From an office lighting perspective, this suggests not disposing or replacing fittings before end of useful life, extending useful life by ensuring components can be replaced or upgraded (particularly the driver within the LED fitting), setting in place supporting maintenance, warranty or lighting as service structures, reusing redundant fittings elsewhere and ensuring fittings can be readily dismantled into component parts and materials. Our objective is to combine effective working plane lighting within a visually comfortable space while achieving environmental sustainability over whole scheme life. By taking a holistic and intelligent approach to lighting design, the energy savings made in other areas of a scheme allow a ‘carbon budget’ for some ‘feature’ lighting which hugely benefits people’s emotional response to the office space. This article first appeared in issue 27.4 of Government Business Magazine
‘The CAT A paradigm must now itself be consigned to the skip and revisited to better align with current requirements’
Bob Bohannon, MSc FSLL, MIET, is the current president of the SLL
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