Design: Lighting for Community Wellbeing and Sustainability.
August 9, 2022Image walking into a dark room. Can you picture yourself working or living in a dimly lit space every day? The functionality of a building, and its occupants, is largely dependent on the quality of lighting. We need good lighting to effectively experience a space. Lighting can positively or negatively affect the human body and mind. Good lighting can improve productivity, mood, and energy levels. Conversely, poor lighting can hinder the way individuals work, learn, and even heal. Lighting can even affect a buildings environmental impact. It’s for these reasons lighting is a primary focus for CSV when designing or renovating a space. 
Four ways lighting can impact sustainability
Life cycle & Efficiency: When designing sustainably, CSV not only considers the duration of the design, but the quality and value the overall design brings to its occupants. The project team takes care to select the most durable and energy efficient lighting available. To further support the life cycle of a building, CSV selects fixtures that can be adapted to support the rapid advances in technology.
Chemicals: Out with fluorescent lighting, in with energy efficient LED lights! Carbon dioxide (CO2), a damaging waste product that is a major pollutant, is produced when electricity is generated. LED lighting is a more environmentally friendly option as less energy is required to generate electricity, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide which is produced and released into the atmosphere.
Light Pollution: Like a lot of man-made creations in the world, too much of anything brilliant can gradually develop into a negative impact on the natural environment. Light pollution refers to the excessive and inappropriate use of artificial light. This abuse of artificial light can lead to several harmful impacts on the environment and wildlife and general human health. A lot of studies show how light can negatively change the migration pattern of animals. Changing and confusing their natural way of living, causing them to lose track, change their patterns and often die. Light pollution can aid in worsening climate change as well. By emitting further heat to the air. A simple way to refrain from light pollution within your own home, is to always remember to close any unnecessary lighting to help reduce carbon emission and other harmful green house gases.
Natural Light: CSV designs spaces that provide access to as much natural light as possible. Our designs are typically characterized by the use of large or numerous windows that allow the outside light in, minimizing the need to generate electricity.