European and Asian Regions have Different Office Lighting Tastes

European and Asian Regions have Different Office Lighting Tastes

Creating comfort through light in an office environment is an important design aspect for lighting manufacturers. Designing anti-glare and flicker free lighting is an area all manufactures can agree on. Exterior appearance, however, is where it differs.

Different regions require different design aesthetics for office lighting fixtures. This is most evident when comparing European and Asian office lighting preferences. European lighting manufactures place importance on the exterior appearance of lighting fixture design while Asian manufacturers prioritize energy-saving benefits and improving work efficiency. 

Observing the many office lighting fixtures manufacturers exhibited at this year’s Light+Building, there was a stark contrast between the products displayed by European manufacturers and  Asian manufacturers. Asian manufacturers showcased panel lighting with white panel seals on top of the luminaire to direct light downwards, creating a much more uniform indoor lighting distribution. European manufacturers on the other hand opted for office lighting that was thin and transparent in appearance. The majority of manufacturers used transparent light guide plates in their panel luminaires, which created a thin exterior that projected light upwards. The UK for example has required luminous flux for office luminaires to reach above 30 percent. Although, not every region has similar requirements, many manufactures however still emphasize upward light projection to create homogeneous light distribution for the entire office space. 

Eyes on Smart Lighting

Eyes on Smart Lighting

Smart lighting has become the trump card  for manufactures who want to give themselves an edge in the market. Large manufacturers including Philips, Osram, Samsung, and LG all showcased their newest smart lighting products at Light+Building 2014. The idea that anything is possible through smart lighting was evident at this year’s exhibition in Frankfurt. 

Smart lighting is a lighting technology designed folightingr energy efficiency. This may include high efficiency fixtures and automated controls that make adjustments based on conditions such as occupancy or daylight availability.

Current statistics reveal that 65 percent of energy consumed in the US is by the commercial and industrial markets and 22% of this energy is being utilized for lighting alone.We can see that lighting energy takes up a lot of energy and even 1 percent of saving on that part will matter a lot in energy efficiency.

Smart Control Technology (Building automation and lighting control solutions) are now available to help reduce energy usage and cost by eliminating over-illumination and unnecessary waste. These solutions provide centralized control of all lighting within a home or commercial building, allowing easy implementation of scheduling, occupancy control, daylight harvesting and more. Many systems also support Demand response and will automatically dim or turn off lights to take advantage of DR incentives and cost savings.

Since the first caveman learned to control fire, humans have shaped and used light in a constantly expanding array of technologies. Yet lighting – “smart lighting” – could do much more, according to E. Fred Schubert, Wellfleet Senior Distinguished Professor of the Future Chips Constellation at Rensselaer.

Smart Control Technology (Building automation and lighting control solutions) are now available to help reduce energy usage and cost by eliminating over-illumination and unnecessary waste. These solutions provide centralized control of all lighting within a home or commercial building, allowing easy implementation of scheduling, occupancy control, daylight harvesting and more. Many systems also support Demand response and will automatically dim or turn off lights to take advantage of DR incentives and cost savings.