What are the most effective sustainable lighting design strategies for hospitality spaces?

I agree, but care must be taken to balance daylight ingress with the thermal performance of the building. Large glazed elements are thermal weak points in the facade, increasing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. Therefore it is not just the quantity of glazing but rather the placement and distribution of glazing that counts. This way, glazing can be used to maximum effect in conjunction with other measures such as interior finishes and layout.

In designing lighting for hospitality spaces, focusing on sustainability means utilizing LED lighting for energy efficiency, integrating natural daylight through strategic openings, implementing sensor and control systems to optimize usage, promoting task lighting for personalized illumination, selecting energy-efficient fixtures, incorporating dimming systems for flexibility, zoning lighting based on different functions, opting for fixtures made from recyclable materials, emphasizing regular maintenance, and all in all contributing the Green Building Index. The idea is not only to enhance the overall guest experience but also to contribute to the responsible use of resources and energy conservation within the hospitality environment.

The basic of harnessing natural light is to plan the space to respond to the natural light movement ,Architecture and interiors of the space should be responsive to the daylight that is optimum and less of heat and glare.

In the realm of 3D art and interior design, harnessing the power of natural light is akin to painting with the sun. It not only conserves energy but also paints spaces with a vibrant, ever-changing palette. In hospitality design, this translates to creating inviting atmospheres that resonate with guests and promote well-being. Incorporating natural light through architectural elements like expansive windows and skylights, while offering control through adaptive shading solutions, ensures a sustainable and harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality. It's a design approach that not only saves resources but also enhances the guest experience.

The most sustainable light is a light that is switched off. Having said that, natural light is not necessarily more sustainable. That depends on the architecture, the building physics and their design, and of course the daylight design: its shading, redirection, and diffusion. Daylight design is a complex specialty. We have practiced it since 30 years, and I am still learning... Together with clients and architects we keep finding unexpected yet effective solutions, often based on an explorative way of working. Simply adding daylight is not the solution. Designing daylight with experience, expertise, a vision and an opinion... That is a great way forward.

I agree but it’s not enough to use LEDs. This is now the default light source for general lighting applications, so while it is laudable to replace less efficient sources with LEDs, it is also important to consider other aspects, such as using light sources as effectively as possible within the space to illuminate vertical surfaces and create the feeling of brightness.

Care needs to taken with LED lighting that the CCT Correlated Color Temperature AKA Kelvin is coordinated with the other LEDS in a space A warm 2700 in guest rooms is important. I have stayed in rooms where the CCT in an LED retrofit lamp was one CCT in a table lamp and another CCT in another lamp. Not all CCT are the same You can look at many different versions of 2700 and they can be different from one manufacturer to another. Often with Hospitality, the conglomerates looking for cost savings and is not so careful about making sure the CCT is actually the same Then you walk into the restroom and it is totally different. This makes all the difference when staying in a hotel room

At the same time care must be taken to select good, reliable and higher quality LED suppliers / manufacturers. As low quality binning is now a major source of pollution even with the whole transition to LED products

LED no doubt has far greater energy efficacy than all predecessors (incandescent, fluorescent etc). however, much attention & budget needs to be allocated towards employing fixtures with lesser UGR, so occupants can enjoy Illumination with less of the glare.

In the world of interior design and 3D artistry, LED technology is a game-changer for sustainable lighting design. These energy-efficient marvels outshine their traditional counterparts, lasting up to 25 times longer while consuming a fraction of the energy. This translates to reduced maintenance and less environmental impact. What's more, LEDs offer a diverse spectrum of colors, temperatures, and intensities, enabling designers to craft bespoke lighting experiences. From creating a warm and inviting ambiance in bedrooms to setting a bright and vibrant tone in meeting spaces, LED lights are our versatile brushstrokes, painting sustainable masterpieces.

Smart controls allow both an immersive lighting design and a reduction of lighting power density. Implementing a smart control provides flexibility and offers the ability to adjust lighting effects, intensity levels, and schedules to meet the changing needs of your business. That’s the way!

Smart Controls alone is like a job done halfway. It needs a strategy at forehand that implements all different sensors and actors. You can and should connect the information from presence detectors with elevators with coffee machines with lights with calendars etc. But only few are able to understand the complexity or the potential that lies in automation beyond saving energy.

Smart controls like sensors and remote's are essential in saving energy and creating an ambient space in which the light comes on and off naturally.

Vollkommen richtig ??. Es macht gar keinen Sinn KEINE Lichtsteuerung mit zu verplanen. Die Schwierigkeit besteht eher darin den Bauherren von den Vorteilen zu überzeugen da diese nur den Invest sehen und nicht den Lebenszyklus der Leuchte.

I have always sounded useful to install occupancy sensors and timers to control lighting in areas where occupancy is intermittent, such as corridors, restrooms, or storage spaces. These sensors can turn lights off when spaces are unoccupied, reducing unnecessary energy usage. Using automation to illuminate the lesser used spaces makes the project more sustainable.

Mimicking cannot be the solution..biophillic should be in true sense biophillic.upcycled furniture, materials that have lesser carbon footprints, usage of indoor plants and plan Lighting to aid the growth of the plants ,relaxation spaces that look outwards to openness,sensory experiences background sounds and music that create a mood of being outdoors ,technology enabled visual as well as virtual scene settings to environment

When it comes to sustainable lighting design, embracing biophilic design principles is a game-changer. This approach seeks to forge a profound connection between indoor spaces and the natural world. In the realm of hospitality design, biophilic elements not only enhance aesthetics and emotional appeal but also boost air quality, thermal comfort, and acoustic performance. Picture using natural materials, textures, colors, and patterns that echo the beauty of nature, or incorporating plants, water features, and natural sounds to infuse spaces with vitality and harmony.

Biophilic design comes closer with the procession of smart sensors and more energy efficient modern armatures and is more and more becoming mainstream due to that. Modern design focusses on natural light and bringing the outdoors indoor with giant glass panels for instance and the use of natural materials.

Isn′t "biophilic design" not very often just an image created to look environmental friendly. In that case it is more greenwashing than necessarily a greenacting.

in some cities, space is not a luxury. greening the interiors can be challenging as plants will now need grow light, instead of regular lighting. and if not enough natural light can be harnessed, the reliance on artificial grow light will increase. indoor plants & airplants is excellent choice as they require lesser attention. nature themed decor & motifs in the furnishing also can lift the moods of patrons & staff.

Circular design is a beacon of sustainability in lighting innovation. This concept champions the virtues of reusing, repairing, and recycling lighting materials and resources, thereby curtailing environmental impact and waste generation in the lighting industry. For designers and clients alike, circular design opens doors to fresh opportunities and innovations. Picture lighting fixtures crafted from recycled glass, metal, or wood, or imagine modular and adaptable lighting systems that seamlessly transform to suit various functions and spaces. Circular design not only enhances sustainability but also fosters creativity and resourcefulness in lighting solutions.

Downlights, spotlights and track lighting have made great strides towards circular design from a technical and functional viewpoint. Hospitality however relies on creating well designed spaces that feel homely, make it's guests feel cared for and welcome and in most cases even offering your tracklights in a variety of colours just is not going to cut it. So we instead rely on decorative lighting. There are two camps here. One - create a timeless design with a strong emphasis on durability, think high end brass and glass items, manufactured using a lot of resources at high cost; two - more cost effective, low resource options allowing for easy style change when the inevitable redesign occurs.

Circular design is more and more becoming mainstream as we strive towards a more environ ment friendly way of construction and living.

Currently 99,9% of all products are not circular! Circular lighting design is an extremly important aim. Particularly in the hospitality sector where renovations every 5-10 years are common and the lifespan of products could be longer. So it needs a re-use strategy, a 2nd life to products. A circular product should ideally be composted or be refurbished to 100% with no waste. That is not supported by much of the lighting industry. Their business is to sell. It needs a well informed lighting designer to improve a project to become as circular as possible.

Un ejemplo de dise?o circular en iluminación es la compa?ía espa?ola AcDO, cuyo fundador fue galardonado este a?o con el Premio Nacional de Dise?o y que destaca por comercializar lámparas PET fabricadas con plástico reciclado. Incluso Artek, la reconocida firma de mobiliario, puso en funcionamiento "second-cycle stores" con productos vintage de segunda mano. En cualquier caso, es esencial valorar la adecuación de los materiales para su posterior reparación o reutilización de manera que preserven su funcionalidad.

Everything addressed over here, and much more, together forms social responsibility. The purpose statement of every company, in hospitality or elsewhere, should nowadays include a paragraph on the company's contribution to society. Sustainable lighting is part of that: it helps to preserve nature and a healthy habitat for people and societies. The real issue of the hotellerie is of course the journey to the hotel. That is still hugely impacting the environment. Less travel is the only way forward. And why not?

Social responsibility comes with the more present emphasis on durable materials and recycle able ornaments as well as the investment in socially durable ways of production.

Social responsibility should take place in 2 locations: - the installation place where products should have as little (negative) effect on the surrounding as possible; as an example just do not use uplights where >90% of the light illumintes the sky - second location is the production place. Is there a manufacturer who can give a guarantee that he is not using rare earths or other material of a questionable resource? And that no person is working under doubtful conditions?

Pontus ist right: Use less! And I may add: If you want light, then use it with care and be very, very careful in the selection of the product. It has to be on the spot with your intention. Look for the product that does its job perfect and does not spill light everywhere else.

Use less. It's a rough answer but it's true in every facet of the design process. Unfortunately, it might also be an unpopular answer because we might not be able to do the lush, rich and luxurious environments that fetch the highest prices.

There is an unfortunate trend for battery table lamps currently that is poised to create recycling problems in the future. What happens when those batteries reach their end of life. Most of these lights are cheaply produced sealed units not built with any thought for circular design. Whilst they certainly allow spaces to remain modular and thus slightly more sustainable, long term they are a bad solution when compared to using properly designed fixtures. Lampshades have been forgotten by many as a low use of resources way to allow decorative style changes that are inevitable in the hospitality industry.

Great article Michael. Applying those strategies will reduced energy consumption and lower carbon emissions which will be contributing to broader environmental sustainability goals.

@Tom Acciarini makes a good point that the humble ol' lamp shade can be a low resource way of refreshing a room. Also valid points about waste from battery lamps.