The Lighting Control Innovation Award was created in 2011 as part of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Illumination Awards program, which recognizes professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design. LCA is proud to sponsor the Lighting Control Innovation Award, which recognizes projects that exemplify the effective application of lighting controls in nonresidential spaces.
This month, we will explore the role that lighting controls play in a library’s energy-efficient lighting, designed to contribute to a goal of the building being designated as LEED Silver. Lighting control design by Ardra Zinkon, lighting designer, Tec Studio. Lighting controls by Lutron Electronics.
With LEED Silver as the goal, high-end expectations are met within this 30,000-sq.ft. new construction library branch through careful planning and integration of the lighting design solution. The lighting system for this project operates at a minimum of 16% less than 90.1 primarily through the use of fluorescent product to maintain the budget.
The Café is illuminated with fluorescent pendants equipped with DALI dimming ballasts. Suspended CMH track fixtures highlight the display of current periodicals. The track is equipped with a current-limiting device for reduced energy consumption, and is tied to the DALI system through the use of an addressable switching module.
As daylight filters in through the clerestory windows, continuous runs of linear fluorescent provide task illumination throughout the open architecture; at stack and computer stations and respond to RF photosensors. The linear pendants provide a hint of uplight emitted from the side cut-outs, ensuring contrast ratios are within recommended practice.
Stack Areas require higher illumination than Seating or Computing, creating a challenge in an open environment. Ballast tuning was used within the multi-layered control strategy. An estimated savings of 25% has been calculated for these areas.
Free-standing meeting rooms reside within the open structure. Fluorescent pendants provide even illumination, and are controlled via local occupancy sensor. Lighting can be easily re-configured (if needed) due to the use of a raised floor system for wiring and RF controls.
Skylights within the teen area bring natural light into the space to ensure the location remains attractive to visitors, tucked into the back of the library. Daylight Harvesting has been used throughout the space for additional savings.
In addition to reduced lighting power density and the innovative use of controls, this project has been approved for an innovation credit following the LEED credit for Sustainable Purchasing: Reduced Mercury in Lamps.