Crownlite

Reducing lighting energy reduces options and increases the risk that the lighting system will not meet its goals. The higher the bar (LEED classification) the more creative and knowledgeable the project team needs to be.

As lighting design and product choices become more complex, the knowledge of energy efficiency, Epact Tax benefits (please see knowledge base article » Energy Tax Benefits - The 2005 Energy Policy Act for details), products, applications, innovative and creative design, and utility rebate programs, adds significant value to the project. Today, Green is not enough.

No professional design team would consider presenting to a client without several internal reviews. Tell me how to make it better. Challenge my assumptions. Getting as much critical feedback as possible and taking advantage of all the resources available to the team is the very essence of the design process. We take a collaborative approach to working with our client and professional partners on a project, aiming to marry architectural design with good lighting principles and our unique knowledge to achieve a focused "green" approach.

Ours is a total environment approach to lighting and energy. We look at a project from the outside in, looking at day lighting, building shell, room use and character, work station and occupant character, actual tasks, real load profiles, actual burning times. While reviewing luminaire specifications and selection we apply exceptional skill and experience in designing and improving optical performance and improving form and function of many luminaires. Where applicable, we can apply our experience to expert value engineering and developing quality retrofits.

The light fixture is but one element in a complete system and environment. It is important to understand design metrics and concepts like: Occupancy and task, TLE (total luminaire efficiency), BF (ballast factor), S/P (scotopic/photopic issues), SPC (spacing criteria), LLD (lamp lumen depreciation) , LDD (luminaire dirt depreciation), initial Lu, design Lu, and EOL (end of life - ave life vs useful life) Lu (lumens), Cd/m2 (candela / sq meter - brightness), apparent brightness, glare, room and surface characteristics, BUG ratings (light trespass), group vs spot relamping, load profiles, and many others, and to put them into proper perspective. Bringing reality and practicality to the models, assumptions, and process used for decision making is often critical.

Computer modeling of prototype areas is just one of the support services Crownlite offers to help save time and expense. If this service is of interest, please review the following information on » Computerized Lighting System Design Assistance for more details.

We find in lighting less is frequently more and therefore stress quality over quantity. Good lighting + energy efficiency is a great lighting design. Good lighting without energy efficiency, or worse energy efficiency with poor lighting, is a missed opportunity.

The owner needs to know that good, energy efficient lighting is an investment, not an expense. Probably the best investment with the best return that he will make all year; one that will help the client not only achieve its corporate citizenship goals, but do it profitably.

Can’t get the LPD down under 1 watt/sft? Impossible!! . . . . .

. . . . Ahhhh! The Beginning of a New Lighting Energy Project!