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s f g o , e n s , e , . s w y o e s . s n h y s d e s d e g Honeycomb, a modular suspended fixture by Luceplan. A variety of lamps can be inserted including LEDs and/or halogens. Brighter Future Innovative lighting technology allows designers to get creative and make smart, sustainable choices by Susan Pederson There's something special about a well-lit space. Everyday tasks are performed with greater ease, business is conducted efficiently, people moving through the space feel secure and comfortable and, with a little luck, the lighting scheme actually enhances the quality of life for everyone inhabiting the space. New lighting technologies give designers opportunities for creativity, as well as efficiencies in energy and functionality. But lighting experts must weigh a myriad of elements when planning a lighting scheme, including daylighting, space, personal sensitivities and design sensibilities of their clients, all while seamlessly blending these elements for a customized lighting solution. Danielle Lavigne, A.L.A. lighting specialist with Robinson Lighting and Bath, says, "Lighting mostly boils down to two things: form and function. Clients have different priorities. Some are limited to a budget, while others are looking for works of art to showcase their discerning tastes. It's a very important part of our job to make sure that different styles of lighting are going to provide the proper function for what the client needs." From making a small space appear larger to enhancing room decor, today's lighting technology delivers. The colour rendering of LEDs and CFLs are becoming better for illuminating art and faces in true colours, plus the colour temperatures are becoming more standardized for use in different applications. Lavigne is excited about Tech Lighting's Unilume LED undercabinet solutions, an LED strip with a remote phosphor lens over the normally blue light. The lens absorbs the blue light and the resulting light reads as white light. The phosphor lens illuminates shadows and creates a much wider beam distribution, so fewer units are needed. That's good news for those committed to green lighting on a budget. Those who are looking for greener solutions lean toward LED or CFL technologies, but some fixtures designed to work with standard incandescent lamps can be retrofitted with new technology so they are more adaptable to trends and ever-evolving legislation. That may be a good "quick fix" for some, but today's technology can do so much more. Paul Boken, associate with Mulvey & Banani and director of the lighting design division, says, "With LED lights, the light source comes with the fixture so we try to choose manufacturers who have modular light boards because we are expecting it to last ten years before the light goes out." Those who are counting on lighting solution to last 10 years may as well get it right from the beginning. According to Boken, the best time to think about a lighting scheme is before construction has even begun. "For indoor lighting we start as early as possible, because for some clients we will be integrating light sources within ceiling cavities, for example. We don't want to miss any opportunities later on because we discover that the ceiling is limited or that some light fixtures don't work." An integrated lighting approach doesn't always mean the fixtures are hidden. It can mean that lighting with a linear trim is included in a meeting space with linear accents in the design. Paying attention to how natural light penetrates the space and adding layers of light are critical for any successful lighting scheme. "It must be adequate for safety and security, for guiding people through the space, beautification and be an environmentally-conscious design," Boken says. There's a lot of buzz about colour in the lighting industry. What well-meaning home or business owner hasn't stocked up on energy-efficient bulbs only to discover the horrible grey/green light that sends us screaming back to our tried-and-true incandescent bulbs? According to industry professionals, the lighting industry has fixed the problem. "Fluorescents have caught up so the colour quality is almost perfect in some models that have entered the market in recent years," says Boken. "We have a colour rendering index (CRI) in the industry, with ratings from zero to 100. Some models are achieving 100, when anything over 90 is not discernable to the naked eye. Even high 80s is really good." Boken adds that the exciting thing about LED lighting is the perfect colour that can be achieved. "We can specify more red for example, while some manufacturers and artists will want warm white," adds Boken. Henry Doornberg, electrical engineering principle with Hemisphere Engineering, is not a fan of what he describes as the "Disneyland approach" that he sometimes sees in the lighting market. He feels that adjusting the colours of light in retail spaces, art galleries or jazz clubs is important, but balks at "light shows" in hotel lobbies. "People forget that the purpose of lighting is simply to provide adequate lighting for our needs. Every space doesn't need to have an entertainment factor," he says. Doornberg adds that "the jury is still out" on LED as a technology, noting that the luminous efficacy of LEDs is still less than fluorescent light. "The LED industry has done such a good job of marketing that they are generally seen as the next step, but at this stage we are not looking at LEDs as a viable replacement for fluorescents, at least in terms of efficacy." Doornberg likes the advancements in T5 fluorescent systems, as well as the advances in lighting systems that can be customized to occupants' needs and preferences, while incorporating daylighting and conserving energy. While he is a fan of customized approaches to LED lighting in some situations, he stresses that the end-user has to be able to operate a lighting system to realize its full potential. "You are talking about building operators, and all they know is that there is this black box that has something to do with the lighting. They often don't know how to use the system to its full capacity and you just end up with a system that cycles through all the colours of the rainbow because that's its default setting," explains Doornberg. BC Hydro's Power Smart engineer and lighting team lead, Cristian Suvagau, notes that most people only think of lighting when something goes wrong. "Providing lighting needs to be a happy marriage between the science and the art of lighting. A lighting designer needs to understand not only the benefits and limits of various technologies, the given environment such as architecture, constraints, furniture layouts, window sizing and colour finishes, but Lighting p30-35Raised floors_lighting.indd 33 13-09-13 3:39 PM

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