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Lighting

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Design Guidance

Overall Strategies

Lighting within the office space is a major contributor to energy consumption. Incorporating sustainable lighting practices, such as lighting controls and daylighting, may reduce energy consumption and increase occupant satisfaction. Improper lighting systems are inefficient and give off extensive heat, leading to discomfort and more energy waste through the air conditioning system. Daylighting is usually preferred to artificial light and contributes to the well being of the individuals in the office space.

Task Lighting

Task lights are designed to provide the occupant control of the light levels in their workspace. They illuminate specific work areas and allow for less ambient light. Task lighting can be hard-wired in a cubicle / desk or it can be a simple desk lamp.

Lamp Types

There are many different types of light bulbs / lamps used at commercial buildings including fluorescent, compact fluorescent, and Light Emitting Diode (LED). Incandescent lighting is becoming obsolete. Lamp selection should be driven by efficiency, lamp life, color quality of the light and its intended use. - Fluorescent lights do not give off as much heat, can be highly efficient and have a long useful life. However, they contain mercury and typically are not dimmable unless using a dimmable ballast. - CFLs can produce a warm light, are highly efficient and have a long useful life. However, CFLs contain small amounts of mercury and are also sensitive to frequent on/off cycling and as such their rated lifetimes may be reduced if switched on/off regularly. Not all CFLs are dimmable. - LED lamps do not contain mercury, are highly efficient, turn on quickly, are dimmable, and have a long useful life. LEDs are currently more costly and have a light quality that is typically whiter than incandescent.

Decorative / Accent Lighting

Decorative / accent lighting is designed to illuminate special architectural features or artwork. Decorative / accent lighting fixtures typically use energy-intensive MR16 lamps, however, there are energy-saving LEDs alternatives.

Green Tips

  • Use controls that turn off electric lighting in response to natural light levels to reduce energy consumption.
  • Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs.
  • Limit the use of accent lighting to specific artwork or educational items to reduce energy consumption.
  • Incorporate daylighting or views to the outside to create an inviting, ascetically pleasing environment as natural light is usually preferred to artificial lighting.
  • Use efficient LED task lighting to reduce energy consumption while providing occupants control of the light levels.
  • Use direct-indirect lighting to contribute to an efficient lighting system.
  • Use efficient fluorescent lamps as they do not give off as much heat and have a long useful life.
  • Use efficient LED task lighting to reduce energy consumption while providing occupants control of the light levels.

Compare Lighting Options

EB = Existing BuildingsNC = New Construction and Major Renovation

Legal Requirements

Guiding Principles

  • Environmentally Preferable Product ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: V. Reduce Environmental Impact of Materials

    Use products that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment over their lifecycle when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. A number of standards and ecolabels are available in the marketplace to assist specifiers in making environmentally preferable decisions. For recommendations, consult the Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers.

    Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers - Whole Building Design Guide Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)

  • Energy Efficiency ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [NC])
    Section: II. Optimize Energy Performance

    Establish a whole building performance target that takes into account the intended use, occupancy, operations, plug loads, other energy demands, and design to earn the ENERGY STAR - targets for new construction and major renovation where applicable. For new construction, reduce the energy use by 30 percent compared to the baseline building performance rating per the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., (ASHRAE)/Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Standard 90.1-2007, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential. For major renovations, reduce the energy use by 20 percent below pre-renovations 2003 baseline. Laboratory spaces may use the Labs21 Laboratory Modeling Guidelines. Use ENERGY STAR and FEMP-designated Energy Efficient Products, where available.

    DOE FEMP - Purchasing Specifications for Energy-Efficient Products

  • Daylighting and Lighting Controls ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB])
    Section: IV. Enhance Environmental Quality

    Automated lighting controls (occupancy/vacancy sensors with manual-off capability) are provided for appropriate spaces including restrooms, conference and meeting rooms, employee lunch and break rooms, training classrooms, and offices. Two options can be used to meet additional daylighting and lighting controls performance expectations: ? Option 1: Achieve a minimum daylight factor of 2 percent (excluding all direct sunlight penetration) in 50 percent of all space occupied for critical visual tasks, or? Option 2: Provide occupant controlled lighting, allowing adjustments to suit individual task needs, for 50% of regularly occupied spaces.

  • Energy Efficiency ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB])
    Section: II. Optimize Energy Performance

    Three options can be used to measure energy efficiency performance: Option 1: Receive an ENERGY STAR rating of 75 or higher or an equivalent Labs21 Benchmarking Tool score for laboratory buildings, Option 2: Reduce measured building energy use by 20% compared to building energy use in 2003 or a year thereafter with quality energy use data, or Option 3: Reduce energy use by 20% compared to the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 baseline building design if design information is available. Use ENERGY STAR and FEMP-designated Energy Efficient Products, where available.

    FHPSB Energy EfficiencyENERGY STAR Qualified Products