Lighting 'key to sustainable office design'

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 13-08-2010

Businesses could improve sustainability by addressing lighting issues in the workplace, it has been revealed.

Dr Steve Fotios, a senior lecturer of environmental design and sustainability at Sheffield University's School of Architecture, told Morgan Lovell in its latest Green Office podcast that sustainable office design could take a step forward through a reduction in the lux ratings of office lighting.

He commented: "A reduction of 500 lux to 400 would save approximately 20 per cent of the energy ... and by changing the spectrum of lamps, for example, from warm white to cool white, would make the space brighter, but still reduce energy levels."

Dr Fotios added that going forward, a better and more sustainable solution could be the increased use of daylight in illuminating office space.

Elsewhere, a data centre in Newcastle has been awarded a BREEAM rating of Excellent for its designs, according to eWeek Europe.

The development - known as DC1 - received a BREEAM score of 75.78 per cent.

Posted by Ian Johnson