Building Energy Resilience

Ideas to fuel a sustainable built environment

5 min read

Improved Lighting Metrics for Changing Technology

By Wilson Yandell on Jun 3, 2020 12:15:00 PM

Photo by Adam Rouse

Topics: Energy Efficiency Building Performance & Technology Lighting commissioning New Construction Existing Building design review
3 min read

It’s All in the Lighting: A Closer Look at the CRI Method

By Wilson Yandell on Nov 20, 2019 10:00:00 AM

A few years ago, while living in a small apartment in Montreal’s Plateau neighborhood, I noticed that the lightbulb in my kitchen had burned out. Naturally, I went to the hardware store to find a replacement. After struggling to read the French labeling on several different packages, I ultimately decided to go for the least expensive box of LED bulbs that the store had available. Once I installed the newly purchased lightbulb, I noticed a difference in the way our kitchen looked. Specifically, I noticed a difference in the appearance of the bowl of fruit that always sat on the counter. While the lightbulb illuminated the space, I remember thinking to myself how unappetizing and dull my fruit now looked. This exercise, though unintentional, clarified the importance of a light source’s color rendering capability.

Topics: Standards and Metrics Energy Efficiency Lighting New Construction Existing Building design review
8 min read

Introduction to Dynamic Lighting Systems

By Gretchen Schimelpfenig on Jun 7, 2018 10:16:57 AM

In the mid-20th century, the lighting industry made major leaps forward with the evolution of dimming technology, which allowed users to control light levels. Today, modern lighting fixtures are equipped with digital controllers that provide many new capabilities that go far beyond basic dimming, including warm dimming, color-tunable, and color changing lighting options. Why and when might owners select these systems? How can engineers design them? And how can commissioning agents functionally test the equipment?

Topics: Dynamic Lighting Lighting Lighting Controls

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