April 13, 2001
Vol. 17, No. 16, Page 8
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BUSINESSES TURN ON NATURAL LIGHT
By Jena Laske, Contributing Writer
By using natural light, businesses are saving money on energy costs.
Lighting account for 40 percent to 50 percent of the energy consumed in commercial and institutional buildings and 10 percent to 20 percent of energy used in industry, according to an article "Daylighting for Commercial and Industrial Buildings," posted on the Internet at www.lightforum.com by the National Council for Quality Lighting Practitioners.
As electricity costs have risen, architectural thought has changed - no longer are architects using the lights to heat buildings, as they did decades ago. Architects and illumination engineers now use a method called daylighting. This form of natural illumination draws on the sun, sky and ground as sources of light.
The goal is to direct, diffuse or reflect natural light into building interiors. Windows are the customary tools architects use for accentuating natural light. In a new building, windows can be made taller or placed on the south side of the building. Some device help manipulate the light.
Overhangs added to windows reduce sun penetration and glare in the summer and let in more light in the winter. Another device, called a light shelf, installed about two-thirds of the way up on a window, serves a dual purpose. When mounted externally, the shelf shades the bottom portion of the window from direct sunlight, while the top portion reflects daylight onto ceilings. A sensor on the ceiling reacts to the brightness, dimming or brightening lights accordingly. Depending on the weather, office rooms equipped with these devices may need no electrical light.
There are many variables to consider, such as building size, site location and whether the technique is implemented in an initial design or in a renovation.
Businesses that save in light energy may notice costs in other areas. "the more daylight you let into buildings, the more you sacrifice heating and cooling," said Christian Malesic, president/CEO of CM Squared, Inc., a lighting consultant in Harrisburg. He said some buildings are not suited for daylighting, but those that aren't may save on energy costs by redesigning their lighting.
When CM Squared, Inc. redesigned the lighting in Joseph A. Rosi Jewelers, Lower Paxton Township, the goal for the lighting was to produce even illumination. To achieve this, old fixtures were replaced with modern ones and placed in strategic positions to provide maximum dispersion on the jewelry.
"We increased the overall amount of illumination even after reducing the number of fixtures and the wattage of the lamps," explained Craig Malesic, Christian's brother, and illumination designer for CM Squared. He added that the energy cost of the lighting was cut in about half, and maintenance and material costs were reduced. Joseph Rosi confirmed a reduction in his lighting bill, but said he didn't know exactly how much it was.
The expense of a lighting design depends on variables such as size and complexity, the level of craftsmanship, and the quality of the fixtures. According to Craig Malesic, smaller jobs, like Rosi Jewelers, have a price range from $1,000-$10,000. A larger job, like lighting the Walnut Street Bridge, may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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