Lighting

Sunlight is the cheapest method of lighting your building, using no electricity, and reducing carbon emissions. The intensity of daylight is often more than ten times the typical lux values required for indoor lighting, so access to a relatively small amount of daylight can light a large space if an appropriate distribution and diffusion system is in place.

From the perspective of health, productivity, and sustainability, the space inside a building must have access to natural light as the primary source of daytime illumination to maximize energy savings while reducing peak energy demands. Sunlight also has a positive impact on the mental and physical well-being of occupants, helping to regulate sleep cycles and increase focus. Windows can make the most of the available light, even on cloudy days, when a building is designed and planned with natural light in mind. These designs can minimize harsh lighting in the mornings and afternoons.

Smart windows can also be installed to tint automatically based on the light available, further lowering energy costs by reducing the amount of energy needed to cool the space. Lighting accounts for around 22–40% of energy consumption on commercial campuses.

By replacing traditional incandescent lighting with efficient CFL or LED lighting, we can reduce electricity consumption and reap the benefits of much longer product life.

These lighting technologies last longer and use less energy than the incandescent bulbs that previously dominated the market. Several new lighting technologies, including halogen incandescent, compact fluorescent, and LEDs, are currently responsible for providing energy savings of up to 75 percent compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.