Construction experts agree that natural
daylight is not only environmentally efficient but also has a positive effect
on the physiological and psychological well-being of the building’s occupants. According to Tim Hogan of Kenilworth Media,
in its recent
study, enhancing a building’s lighting systems is one way to enhance the
learning environment in a school, while keeping costs at a minimum. With a
green and environmentally efficient building from Norsteel, you can enhance
your building’s performance with the following lighting solutions, which we
recommend.
1.
Light-emitting diode (LED) Solutions
Compared to traditional lighting options,
LED lighting not only consumes much less energy but also has a longer lifespan.
LED options also have an expansive range of options—from remote monitoring to
expansive connectivity. Innovations in the field have made it possible to
integrate LED lighting with digital controls to enable its dimming, balancing,
and switching on/off.
2.
Smart sensors and controls
Another effective lighting solution to
minimize the costs and enhance the learning experience in classrooms is the
installation of smart sensors and controls. For one, these sensors will extend
the life of your luminaries and reduce maintenance costs. It can save as much
as 50% in energy costs and even extend the light fixtures’ life by 20 years.
Lighting controls also allow the conversion
of rooms depending on the lighting that is most conducive for learning. For
instance, if a classroom is used by elementary students, the lighting can be
adjusted in the best way to enhance the kids’ learning. If the same room will
be used by older occupants, the controls can easily shift the lighting for
optimum learning of adult students.
3.
Integrated Lighting Systems
How about integrating electric lighting,
daylighting, and controls, ultimately to provide a learning environment that
will not only reduce the operational expenses but also present the best
learning environment in a classroom, be it the library, music room, or the
science lab? A case in point is that of Towson University in Maryland. The
university had an energy spending of as much as $10 million annually, with 25
to 40% attributed to energy costs. By replacing its old fixtures with 15,000
high-performance fluorescent luminaries, and installing photocell controls and
occupancy sensors, the university demonstrated as much as $100,000 annual
savings in the library alone.