So the blog this week is the "default" from the syllabus:
• For week 5: Chapter 11 Electricity, Chapter 12 Luminaires, Chapter 13 Design
As usual, blog from what you discover in the text. Somebody will be the first to really put the best insight into their blog. Everyone who comes after would then be served by finding articles on the web and in architectural and theatrical lighting magazines to comment upon.
Those of you who have not blogged yet, go back and look at some of the previous posts to see the style I am looking for (especially in the comments and link posting being done by Meryl and Maranda).
Remember, minimum of three trips to the blog per week for interraction with classmates.
Off you go.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
18 comments:
The first chapter on our list is 11: Electricity. This chapter discusses the basics of electricity such as electric current; which is the rate of flow of an electric current, resistance; which impedes the flow of current and is determined by the compositin of a material, and also discusses circuit; which is the path through which an electric current flows. The chapter also has a bunch of illustrations on altering current, what a series and parallel current look like, as well as graphs and charts about the effect of voltage variation on incandescent efficiency.
Here is a cool website I found that tells more about electricity:
http://42explore.com/electric.htm
and
http://www.solcomhouse.com/electricity.htm
The next chapter (12) is over Luminaires. Luminaire provides physical support, electrical connection, and light control for an electric lamp. The chapter goes on to discuss light and glare control, it gives many illustrations on how to position your lamp and what lamps to get for certain situations. The chapter discusses reflector lamps, sheilding, and how it is very critical because the element is prominent in the direct field view, and it also discusses wall washers. Here is a website I found helpful while researching luminaires:
http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/lightingTransformation/residentialLighting/buildersGuide/luminairesArch.asp (this site also has really great illustrations).
The last chapter is chapter 13 over Design. This chapter discusses how lighting is integrated into both the architectural concept and the physical structure. It states that the concept of lighting is integrated into the architectural concept in three ways: (1) by enhancing the original designer's conception of the space, (2) by reinforcing the activity of the space, and (3) by highlighting areas to be prominent, while de-emphasizing areas to be subdued. This particular part of the chapter is, in my opinion, very important to understand because it really helped me to understand what my goals should be for the lighting part of this project we're working on. The chapter also discusses visual clarity, luminaire patterns that can be a distraction or help out the space. It discusses how to light vertical spaces appropriatley, lighting matte surfaces and again, many illustraions to help out your understanding.
Here are some links that may help:
http://www.aact.org/people/lightingdesigner.html
http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pacshop/lab/lab.html
It is important to consider the cost of lighting systems not only the purchase of the luminaires, but the cost of the electricity it going to take to run the lights.Wether its a residential or commercial space it is important to think about how many lights the space will need and how many hours the space will need artificial light.Lights that are on motion sensors are a great investment because they help to reduce energy cost.Occupancy sensors respond to the wether the space is occupied by someone or not.The sensors can be recessed in ceilings or walls.Also if timers and dimmers are used it can reduce the amount of energy bring used.
check out this website to learn more.
http://electronics.ihs.com/news/newsletters/tele-feb04-light-controls.htm
I found a great website about lighting issues and lighting options for big spaces, as well as energy efficient options.
www.lightingdesignlab.com/ldlnews/2005_win_bigspaces.pdf
Lighting issues such as glare, uniformity, vertical brightness, and maintenance costs...
It also talks about lighting for better color in bigger spaces...and gives options and ideas like:
Rare earth fluorescents and ceramic metal halides.
When designing a spaces lighting we also have to consider the codes...here i found the Fl lighitng control requirements....
http://www.lightingcontrols.com/support/statecodes/excerpts/excerpts.asp?state=FL
As Mary said, lighting sensors are a great option in managing lighting controls. These can be preset, manual, or work off motion sensors. When thinking about these options and the cost of running numerous luminaires everyday, we must consider the time of the day they are being used the most. Daylight hours require the most light; providing the space with plenty of light will allow some one to adjust easier to the space coming from the outside in or vice versa. At night time hours, the light level, or number of footcandles can be lower due to the limited amount of light outside.
A tax deduction can be sought through energy efficent lighting. It could be anywhere from $0.60 to $1.80 a sqft. This site also shares past projects that include all of their efficent lighting, data, and tax deductions from it. Other tabs talk about lighting technology such as bulbs, luminaires, and controls.
http://www.lightingtaxdeduction.org/
Since we have a mission to go green, this site gives us one more way to help with just that. Being consistant with the EPA, the Lamp Recycling site offers insight about recycling, where to, and how to recycle old lamps. The site caters towards commercial applications, however it does offer some options of how to go about finding a facility to recycle household lamps. it also has lots of reference sits as well.
http://www.lamprecycle.org/
Electricity, Luminaires, and a well planned Design are what create the overall perfect lighting system in any project. The amount of electricity used in any building is subject to the amount of lights turned on, and the other electrical equipment in the building.
In every project codes need to be met in order to have a safe environment. I found an article called "Guiding the Light" on http://ecmweb.com/market/electric_guiding_light/
The article mentions why some designers and builders view codes as "a necessary evil", since many of them want to go on doing their work without paying attention to the security of the people who will occupy the space. The article focuses on two common energy standards or codes in commercial lighting which are: ASHRAE 90.1-2004 and IECC 2003. The article also mentions the Basis for energy code requirements, the Scope of lighting requirements, the Mandatory individual space control, the Mandatory automatic shutoff, the Mandatory exterior lighting control, the Interior lighting power limits, the Exterior lighting power limits and efficiency, and the Energy code compliance.
The thing I found most interesting in the article is the mandatory automatic shutoff. I personally did not know that commercial buildings were required to have an automatic shutoff system. The article states that it is required for buildings larger than 5,000 square feet.
Chapter 13 - Design
There are several key elements to take with you from this weeks readings. Others have stated quite a few that are certainly very important, yet in my research I found the site Meryl posted very informative in breaking down the process of lighting design.
http://www.aact.org/people/lightingdesigner.html
This site itemizes the job of a lighting designer and then takes steps to walk you through the checklist (even though the site is geared towards stage lighting design, it can be translated into residential or commercial lighting design). To summarize, the site lists the basic functions of light in a space as: Evoke the appropriate mood
Shift emphasis from one area to another
Reinforce the style
Blend visual elements into a unified whole
Once the main objectives are recognized a designer can then implement light controls or be aware of light controls. Which read as follows:
Reflective properties: how much will the luminaries and/or the surrounding surfaces reflect?
Color : the hue given off by the luminaries and or the surrounding space/object
Contrast with its surroundings: the levels of difference
Size
Distance
Another key part of the article listed some of the major properties of light:
Intensity: the brightness of light
Color: the actual hue vs. the hue with light
Distribution: small/large - unfocused glow vs. beam - balance vs. unbalanced
When designing today as many of us already know, energy efficiency is very important. Energy-efficient commercial lighting design includes more that just the ambient or general lighting of a workspace, such as the use of ceiling luminaries. When designing lighting, the general brightness can be reduced if task lighting is implemented properly into the over all design. Task lighting can result in significant energy savings and improve visibility for workers. Of course, there are other ways to make a building more energy efficient when it comes to lighting. In commercial buildings, energy efficient exit signs can be installed as well as parking lot luminaries. I found a website that has established a procedure for determining how much light is needed for a given task. This procedure involves several factors such as type of activity, characteristic of visual task, or the reflectance of the task’s background. This procedure will also help in determining the type of luminaries would be best suited for the space.
http://www.iesna.org/
I found a really great website on energy efficient lighting designs. After reading several articles on lighting design, I think that the most successful way to save the most amount of money is to whole heartedly implement natural lighting. Natural lighting provides the most amount of energy throughout the day with the least amount of money, actually, it costs nothing. Obviously all structures need artificial lighting as well. When you speak in these terms alot more comes into account. Here we get into space planning, electricity, codes, and many other possibilities to take into account. Placement in the strucuture is probably the first thing to take into consideration, after several interviews with the inhabitants of the space. After that selection is nailed down, the electrical plan really comes into play. When looking to save a considerable amount of money we obviously have many more options now, than we ever have had in the past. LED lights and solar energy are major contributors to the cause. But several things can change when considering the actual wiring and voltage of the electricity, which my website I provided goes into detail about.
Website:
http://www.energydesignresources.com/category/lighting
I found chapter 13 really interesting because the integration of lighting is crucial to a design but it's tricky because the lighting is something to be addressed as almost an afterthought. To effectively light a space requires as much time and thorough thought as the basic design; we must keep functionality in mind. I also found Meryl's site on chapter 13 (the second one) very helpful. It gives you an idea of what you should expect when arranging the lighting for the space.
Daylighting provides the opportunity for both energy savings and improved visual comfort. Daylight may be introduced into a building using a variety of design concepts, including sidelighting and/or toplighting strategies. The level of integration of daylighting into the design can have a profound influence on the architectural form of the building.
I found the chapter on electricity very informative but difficult to follow. I got lost in the the numbers. It was interesting though to read about the electric currents path fon the time you turn the switch to the bulb.
The chapter on luminaries was also helpful. I liked how it discussed placement of the lights and the different types of luminaries for different purposes which we learned about in lighting 1 but this chapter goes into more detail.
The chapter on how lighting works with the design was my favorite chapter. It highlights the importance of a properly lit space, and the negative impact that can occur with poor lighting or an irregular luminaire pattern.
I found this chapter very helpful when doing research for my project.
WHen i went to the website that Meryl suggested, (http://42explore.com/electric.htm) what struck me was that electricity is everywhere, even inside our own bodies. Technically, that makes electricity a renewable resource,since it is
so prevalent and easily accessible. However, the way the average consumer uses and harnesses electricity is what turns it into pollution. Just a thought:) Anyway,regarding what tracy said about daylighting: daylighting is also proven to increase efficiency. For instance, in the Herman Miller Furniture factory in Michigan, the warehouse has many skylights and thw workers there are much more efficient than they were before the design of the new building. Additionally, in the Johnson Wax building built by Frank Lloyd Wright, profits increased about 25% after the building was built due to the natural light being implemented inside the building.
I visited the other site that Meryl suggested and here's what i found: "Good, energy-efficient lighting is more economical than poorly thought-out lighting." (http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/lightingTransformation/residentialLighting/buildersguide/introduction.asp) Nowadays contractors and builders can work directly with the consumer in order to help them select lighting systems that are energy efficient and that are economical.
Regarding energy efficiency, the same website also had this to say about floor lamps:"Operated at full brightness, these lamps also use more energy compared to other residential lighting options. A single 500-watt tubular halogen lamp uses as much electricity as 15 four-foot T8 fluorescent lamps."
Something to think about when designing a space.
about my earlier comment...i got kind of in answer to my own "question" about electricity being a renewable resource, the website http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/electricity.html had this to say: "The energy sources we use to make electricity can be renewable or non-renewable, but electricity itself is neither renewable or non-renewable."
In case you were wondering...
Post a Comment