Quantitative Assessment of Architectural Lighting Designs

Abstract

There has recently been a great interest in the outdoor lighting that is energy-efficient and does not intensify a light pollution phenomenon. In architectural lighting, these demands are difficult to implement and rarely analyzed. However, it is possible to introduce and use certain parameters based on the utilization factor for the quantitative assessment of floodlighting design in terms of both light pollution and energy efficiency. This paper presents the definitions of new parameters and the results of their calculations for several typical architectural objects. Different lighting concepts were created for each object together with appropriate computer simulations. The research shows a high potential for usefulness of new parameters in the design process. The floodlighting utilization factor is characterized by relatively low values of around 35%. In addition, obtaining the recommended lighting power density value below 2.2 W/m2 does not sufficiently determine the correctness of the design implementation considering the natural environment. This determines a great potential for opportunities to improve the implemented designs and provides a basis for redefining the currently used approach in architectural lighting. In order to create high-quality, sustainable solutions, all quantitative parameters should be analyzed simultaneously in addition to the esthetic visual effect issue.