Lighting

SMARTER WORKPLACE LIGHTING

With the flick of a switch or motion sensor, a well-designed office space will light up with a seamless design that promotes employee well-being, energy efficiency and sustainability. Thanks to new technologies and ongoing research into how people work, there are now endless opportunities for intuitive lighting design.

Here are a couple of things businesses should consider when it comes to illuminating offices and working spaces.

On-trend Office Lighting
Because we don’t work the same way we used to, we can no longer fall back on the same office lighting designs we once relied on. People are now sharing desks or working part of the day in common-use areas, making task lighting crucial to a successful office lighting design.

This can include lights that come on automatically when someone enters a room, lights that are controlled by the user, and different hues of light for different spaces. Together, these choices can promote an energy-efficient space designed for employee health and productivity. These options also allow for energy savings as the lights are only in use when required. The right combination of natural and artificial light can promote employee well-being and positively impact a company’s bottom line.

In today’s open plan offices, the goal is to illuminate the space evenly, rather than just lighting up the spot where someone sits.

Software And Controls
Going forward, there are a couple of factors that will have a huge impact on commercial lighting, including software, controls and the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a system that allows a single cable to provide both data connection and electrical power to the device. From a lighting perspective, PoE gives each light it’s own IP address, meaning that LED lights can be controlled like any other IT device – allowing them to be turned on and off via smartphones or tablets. Together with lighting controls that allow users to turn up or dial down lighting intensity, improvements in user interfaces and the uptake of smart technology are creating unprecedented opportunities for lighting in workspaces.

Opportunities for better control, monitoring and measurement will only improve with the uptake of Internet of Things (IoT) enabled devices and applications.

Wellbeing And Sustainability
Health, wellbeing and productivity are big considerations for workplace lighting. In addition to adequate lighting in order to prevent eye strain or headaches, employers are taking it one step further by designing lighting that mimics the changes in natural light throughout the day. This means brighter light in the morning and warmer light towards the end of the day, to keep employees body clocks in rhythm and encourage greater concentration and productivity.

Environmental Efficiency
Eco-Audit is a unique value-add service from Specialised Lighting Solutions aimed at lowering running costs and improving efficiency. An on-site lighting audit inspects current lighting applications and usage and aims to cut the cost of lighting upgrades by over 90% while reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs. An Eco-Audit can provide businesses and workplaces with a list of energy efficient products which can assist in lowering of carbon emissions. In the offices of today and tomorrow, the focus will be on efficiency in both space and lighting.