The Lighting Handbook

The Concise Lighting Design Handbook by Zumtobel

A Comparison Between Contemporary Lighting Solution Options Available Today With the Technology Approx. 15 Years Ago

The following list provides clues for discussion with the customer. The potentials stated draw a comparison between contemporary lighting solution options available today with the technology approx. 15 years ago. In a project, viable savings must be accurately calculated in the design stage. The savings apply only on a case-by-case basis. If several measures are taken, they will complement each other without the levels adding up.

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Saving energy, CO₂ and costs Potential savings 

1. Advanced materials 

up to –30% Today’s reflectors and innovative surface finishes provide for more efficient luminaires. 

2. Use of daylight 

up to –60% The LUXMATE daylight-based lighting control system provides for high energy savings where sufficient daylight is available. 

3. Improvement of lamps and control gear 

up to –40% Innovations in the electronic control of lamps, optimised temperatures and improvements of the lamps’ physical properties provide for extensive savings. 

4. Taking ageing into account 

up to –17% The balance between the new value and minimum illuminance can be saved by dimmable control (Maintenance Control). 

5. Taking room utilisation into account 

up to –25% Using presence detectors or a time-based control system, the lighting can be adjusted precisely to the time/s of use. 

Improved ergonomic compatibility 

1. Increased productivity 

 According to various studies, an individual’s productivity can be significantly improved by an upgraded lighting solution (e.g. research by TU Ilmenau, AIF no. 9955). 

2. Fewer errors 

 According to various studies, people’s error rate can be minimised by an upgraded lighting solution (e.g. research by TU Ilmenau, AIF no. 9955). 

3. Increased alertness 

 The human physiology is decoded step-by-step, allowing to perfectly adjust the lighting to the individual (e.g. doctoral thesis by Susanne Fleischer, ETH Zürich). 

4. Enhanced sense of wellbeing 

 Pleasant brightness levels and personal control can have a positive impact on an individual’s sense of wellbeing (e.g. Light Right Consortium). Please note: It is difficult to provide exact and generally applicable figures; however, measurable increases were achieved in individual cases. Minor increases already result in high economic benefits.

Improved maintenance conditions 

(employment of staff for cleaning, maintenance and monitoring) 
Potential savings 

1. Extension of maintenance cycle 

up to +50% Over recent years, the service life of lamps has been significantly extended. 

2. Reduction in maintenance costs 

up to –30% Contemporary luminaires frequently come in a closed design, allowing for easy cleaning. 

3. Automatic monitoring of installations 

up to –80% Today, the facility management tools allow for automatic, central monitoring of installations. The service life of modern light sources, particularly that of LED, is significantly increased. 

4. Energy savings 

up to –20% Easy cleaning luminaires and extension of the maintenance cycle result in a reduced number of luminaires required, and thus energy savings.

Additional arguments 

1. Improvements in environmental factors Today, WEEE and RoHS provide the basis for manufacturing luminaires. Environmental impact has been reduced (e.g. lead/cadmium). 2. State-of-the-art The latest lighting solutions reflect the state-of-the-art and an improved situation in terms of lighting standards.


This article has been extracted from the " Zumtobel Lighting Handbook"

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