Lighting design
Taman Petanu Lighting Design
To reduce the amount of energy needed to manifest a gorgeous, health-full lighting system for the Taman Petanu Eco Neighborhood we are looking at:
well-considered lighting design plans
use of energy efficient LEDs,
natural lighting options and
if possible, Sola Tube Daylighting systems
Click here to download the Taman Petanu Lighting Design Brief.
About the types of lights that will be used at Taman Petanu
The lighting design for the Taman Petanu Eco Neighborhood will use a combination of the following efficient lights.
LED lights
Compact Fluorescent
Halogene
To learn more about these kinds of lights click here...
To try a fascinating light energy savings calculator that shows the varions in energy use between these options click here.
To view a fascinating documentary film called "The Lightbulb Conspiracy - Planned Obsolescence" click here.
About lighting & lighting design
Light is nourishment
Too much artificial lighting and too little natural light will affect the entire body, including our hormones and biocycles. Production of the sleep hormone melatonin in the pineal gland is controlled by light and dark. When there is too little light, the pineal gland doesn't shut down production of melatonin in the morning. People become depressed more easily, and develop listlessness and either decreased appetite or weight gain as a result.
Daylight is also needed to produce vitamin D, which is necessary for normal metabolism of calcium and phosphorous in the body. Vitamin D3 is formed in the skin by the action of ultraviolet light (photolysis) and is transformed in the liver and kidneys into vitamin D. Lack of this vitamin has been shown to be a factor in sad moods or depression.
The sun’s Vitamin D is essential to maintaining good health and is crucial in helping our bodies absorb nutrients such as Calcium, and we need the right amount of light. Both plants and animals experience physical distress when deprived of adequate periods of light and darkness. Chinchillas do not breed successfully and morning glories do not bloom.
Natural and Artificial Light
The natural light of the sun is created by blending a spectrum of colors, ranging from red to violet. Each of these colors are of a different wavelength and visible by shining light through a prism. There also are wavelengths of light that are not visible to the naked eye but still affect us, including infrared and ultraviolet. The healthy development of plants and animals depends on the mixture of all the colors in specific proportions to create sunlight. Hormone production in humans is initiated in response to the skin's exposure to this light.
Artificial light from bulbs and fixtures produces an illumination with imbalances in color reproductions. For example, incandescent light bulbs produce a yellowish-orange light, while fluorescent bulbs tend to create a blend of yellow and green light.
Effects on Emotions
Different colors of light can affect mood. Blue light creates a soothing affect, while red encourages a feeling of excitement and passion. Modern nightclubs are settings in which the visual environment created by different colors of light is specifically designed to elicit a pleasurable emotional response.
Imbalances in lighting also can affect our moods through their negative physical effects. A room that is overly bright can produce eye strain, accompanied by a sense of tension. Alternately, poor illumination can contribute to sadness and depression.
Such negative effects result after a lack of planning and foresight in the use of lighting in living spaces. This can be a particular problem in the workplace where productivity is affected by the emotional and psychological effects of artificial illumination.
Lighting Design
Lighting design can be used to enhance a person's emotional health in the home. In areas of the house where there is a lot of physical activity or movement, such as the kitchen, bright lighting contributes to an active and vibrant atmosphere. In rooms associated with relaxation, low-level lighting design allows occupants to rest after the day's challenges. The best source of light in the home for positive emotions is still sunlight; ensuring curtains are open in the daytime contributes to a sense of confidence and well-being.
About LED lighting
LEDs are high-efficiency light sources. White LEDs with efficacies of 25 lm/W and up are commercially available, exceeding the performance of incandescent and some fluorescent sources. The directional nature of light produced by LEDs allows the design of luminaires with higher overall efficiency.
Read more about the Benefits and drawbacks of LEDs and some technical information about LEDs…
About the use of daylighting
Daylight is essential to a sense of well-being, and a lack of variation in lighting can result in sensory deprivation: boredom, fatigue, lack of concentration and even reduction of intellectual capacity.
It has been shown in several prominent studies that increasing daily exposure to natural light can enhance mental and physical well-being, boost concentration and energy levels and a variety of other unexpected perks.
There are many articles on line about this – for an example click here…
for more information about the various forms of daylighting click here
Finally a note about Light Pollution
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) defines light pollution as: 'Any adverse effect of artificial light including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste.' Read more…