Sustainable Society

How do you think that the SLL/CIBSE will support its recognition of the trend towards sustainability and low energy design?
CIBSE has identified delivering working, low carbon built environments as one of its key issues for the future. Whilst legislation is important, it must have clear and realistic goals. Even more, if building owners are to meet the demands of Part L (UK Building Regulations – The Conservation of Fuel and Power), the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and comply with the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the ability to measure energy performance is essential. There is a danger of a gap opening up between what gets designed and the final performance – post-occupancy feedback is essential. There are two main ways of delivering low energy design. The first is through education and training so that buildings are operated by skilled, knowledgeable engineers. The second is ensuring compliance with regulations. Currently, this is a seriously weak link in meeting our carbon reduction targets.

In terms of lighting, the major reductions in energy saving must come through refurbishment of existing buildings. New build, alone, won’t meet the targets. As I mentioned in my Presidential Address, there is a groundswell of authoritative opinion saying that recommended task illuminance levels could be reduced. This is quite simply recognition that laser printed documents and high contrast VDTs are easier on the eye than third sheet carbon copies or 4H pencil lines on tracing paper. Controlling the lighting is also immensely important. The most inefficient light source is one that is on when it should be off.

What do you think could be improved in terms of lighting requirements in future iterations of Part L?
Firstly, the new revision of Part L (October 2010) is beginning to get close to what is achievable from the luminaire and lamp. Apart from the top end manufacturers, there is not much on the market that meets a delivered 55lm/cw. You can achieve it with expensive optical materials, but other than that, you are looking for a lamp efficacy of about 80lm/W or more. That pretty well limits you to T5 and higher wattage metal halide. The weakness of Part L is that it is based on total load and takes very little account of controlling energy use through dimming or switching off when luminaires are not needed. The SLL and other professional lighting bodies including trade associations prefer the adoption of EN15193 which looks at total consumption per annum. I want to emphasise that energy saving and aesthetics are not mutually exclusive concepts. It is only when good design is linked to lighting quality that you achieve long lasting energy savings. Professional lighters just need to work smarter in future.

Do you think that lighting design and daylighting design should be taught to architects and other non-lighting engineers?
Architects should certainly be taught much more about daylighting than they are at present. Daylighting is our only completely low carbon, sustainable light source. It must be remembered that artificial lighting is a necessity in buildings. As the electrical load caused by heating and cooling reduces due to better insulation and building techniques, the lighting component will take on even greater importance. Again, linking the daylight to artificial lighting via intelligent control is crucial. I might add that it isn’t just architects who should be taught about lighting. Building services engineers should also understand its importance.
Speaking personally, as a dyed in the wool lighter, I think lighting is even more important than football! Everyone should understand the importance of light for their health, wellbeing and, of course, pleasure.

What part has the EU played in influencing the UKs sustainability agenda?
Pan European legislation is hugely important. We are accustomed to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive at the end of a product’s life. The Energy Using Products/Effected Power (EuP/ERP) directives affect its design and manufacture. The EPBD affects how the products are used. Related to this is other legislation such as Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and the work of bodies such as the Central European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). Sustainibility and climate change isn’t just about flooding in England. Without in any way wishing to diminish the importance of events in the UK, thousands of people across the world die due to climate change. We are all in this together.

Where do you think the biggest gaps in lighting design education lie?
The biggest gap is in the holistic approach that is required to achieve truly sustainable lighting designs. Too many courses either concentrate on the engineering or the aesthetics. This is due, in part, to the way our education system is run. It’s a cliché, but the appeal of lighting design is that it combines both art and science. Much like sustainable design, lighting must be multi-disciplinary.

One last thing I would like to say is that artificial light is a necessity. We cannot live our lives the way we do without it. Artificial light requires both materials and energy. It is our duty as lighting professionals, therefore, to minimise its impact on our environment.

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