Susainable lighting design

Sustainable lighting design has been Sutton Vane Associates’ watchword since the practice was set up in the mid-1990s. Mark Sutton Vane’s design for the Tsola solar powered paving tile won a Millennium Award and both he and director Michael Grubb regularly lead workshops and talk to British and international audiences on issues such as energy saving, recycling and biodiversity. It is a complex subject, however, and many Sutton Vane Associates projects demonstrate that while sustainability is an important component of good lighting design, lighting design is itself part of a bigger picture that includes sustainability and a host of other green issues.

Daylight is the lowest energy source

Sutton Vane Associates is often called in to provide professional advice on achieving the best results through energy efficient lighting. This is seldom a case of simply using one low energy lamp technology but may involve using daylight and/or lighting control systems to achieve energy savings over time. Indeed, wherever possible, natural light is our first choice, with various types of artificial light added in layers to achieve the best lighting solution.

Impartial advice on lighting technologies and complaince

While manufacturers in particular are liable to propose simplistic solutions and make grand claims for individual technologies, as an independent lighting consultant, Sutton Vane Associates is able to look at lighting design problems in the round. For example, we also look at issues such as the embedded energy of lamps and luminaires, the use of recyclable materials in their manufacture, where lamps and luminaires are to be sourced, and how they help achieve low maintenance costs in the long term. We will also advise on compliance with legal requirements and duties such as Part L of the UK’s Building Regulations and the EU’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive as they relate to lighting, and standards on lighting levels in the workplace.

Lighting’s impact on the environment and biodiversity

Many of Sutton Vane Associates’ large scale urban lighting schemes include the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Masterplans and lighting strategies also look at effects such as the overall energy savings created by building the night-time economy in a city versus people travelling out of town for shopping and entertainment, and ways to avoid or limit the impact on wildlife including bats and birds.

Latest lighting technology and techniques

CPD training is mandatory for all members of the Sutton Vane Associates design team, which is committed to keeping abreast of the latest lighting technology and sustainable lighting techniques. Encouraging Sutton Vane Associates staff to be mindful of the effect of their actions on natural resources is part of the practice’s corporate social responsibility policy.