It is tailored to architects, contractors, building owners, or anyone who wants to get up-to-speed and up-to-date on lighting efficiency for the workplace, including utility sponsored energy efficiency programs and the latest technologies. The curriculum focuses on workplace lighting, especially offices, retail, and industrial spaces.
The course is structured into three main modules with eight lessons each. After every four lessons, students are required to successfully pass a quiz to receive access to the next four lessons. Course credit is determined by completing the six quizzes of the class and the course evaluation.
The lesson provides a quick overview of all the various impacts of non-residential lighting and what California resources are available to support more energy efficient lighting. The basic vocabulary of light is presented through illustrations, to ensure a common vocabulary throughout the course. Students are introduced to the on-line text.
Lighting has many social and environmental impacts which should be appreciated in the larger context. This lesson describes energy consumption, environmental costs and benefits associated with commercial building lighting.
An understanding of the human visual system is the first step in being able to assess whether a lighting system achieves the necessary quality for the application. Topics include adaptation, aging effects, glare and vision, along with how lighting affects our attention, mood, and sense of time.
This lesson examines color perception is the result of many factors: the interaction of the lighting source, the color reflectance of surfaces and the perception of the viewer. Topics include Correlated Color Temperature, Color Rendering Index, color specification of lamps. The lesson also covers the latest research on the impact of lighting on health.
This lesson reviews the concept of the visual task, and how lighting requirements vary by task. The implications of the new IESNA illuminance selection procedure are discussed, along with recent research on the impacts of lighting quality on human performance and organizational productivity.
Methods for measuring illuminance, luminance, reflectance are demonstrated. The different types of lighting calculations are reviewed, especially the inputs to the Lumen Method, and how they describe the calculated illuminance in a space. The impacts of lighting maintenance practices on illuminance levels are also discussed.
A wide variety of lighting software programs with different levels of complexity are available, such as lighting design, audit programs, and daylighting analysis. This lesson describes when these various programs are appropriate and the pros and cons of each type of software for various applications.
Lighting technology and design theories are rapidly evolving. This lesson maps out the wide range of lighting information resources available from commercial, governmental, educational and professional organizations that are available. Special attention will be given to web sites.
This lesson presents the vast array of incandescent light sources, their efficacy, limitations and appropriate applications. Students learn about the basic principles of incandescent lamp operation, and when various incandescent technologies (standard, krypton fill gas, halogen and HIR) can be used for more efficient design solutions.
This lesson covers the nomenclature for fluorescent lamps and ballasts, and explains principals of operation. The variety of lamp and ballast specification options, and their implications for lighting quality and energy efficiency are reviewed.
The performance and shape options for Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL's) available on the market are rapidly expanding. This lesson describes the range of types available, and their application considerations.. The characteristics of a similar technology, induction lamps, are also presented.
High intensity discharge (HID) lamps, including metal halide and high pressure sodium lamps offer many opportunities for lighting efficiency.. This lesson includes discussions of lamp life, luminous efficacy, lamp types, color rendering, ballast types, re-strike time, sensitivity to position and appropriate applications.
Displacing electric lighting with daylight can substantially reduce electricity consumption in our workplaces. Daylighting design principles, via toplighting or sidelighting, are illustrated. Integration with electric lighting design and control selection is emphasized.
The key issues for luminaire selection on lighting quality and energy efficiency are explored. The features of various luminaire types are explained and matched to their appropriate applications. The choice of lamp type is an important factor in luminaire selection.
Automatic lighting controls present one of the greatest opportunities for reducing the energy impacts of electric lighting, while maintaining quality. The principles of operation, and selection guidelines for a variety of controls are presented. The lesson covers a range of control strategies including multi-level switching, time or photocell switching, occupancy sensing, daylight harvesting, adaptation compensation, and demand management.
The lesson provides an overview of emerging new lighting technologies, including T-5 fluorescent lamps, ceramic metal halide, electrodeless (induction) fluorescent, LEDs and low mercury fluorescent lamps. Other, less developed, technologies such as the sulfur lamp are also described. Principles of operation, and pros and cons for applications will be discussed.
The basic stages for creating a lighting design are outlined. Simple examples illustrates the design steps: defining the conditions, setting criteria, producing the design and verifying that the design meets the project objectives. The lesson lists a range of issues that need to be considered for a given application.
This lesson looks at how to calculate the energy use of the lighting systems in a building, including lighting power density (LPD), usage schedules, demand impacts and why there might be differences between estimated and actual energy usage. The impact of lighting controls will be considered, along with interaction effects with the HVAC system. The requirements of Title 24 and ASHRAE 90.1 are explained.
This lesson considers how to estimate the costs and benefits of efficient lighting. Simple payback, life cycle costing and other valuation methods are explained and compared. The various financial inputs are discussed, along with maintenance, productivity, environmental benefits, and the benefits of participating in utility programs.
Office design issues and strategies are presented, including general lighting, task/ambient lighting, direct and indirect lighting designs. Lens and luminaire types are evaluated in terms of glare, uniformity, spacing requirements, surface brightness and mounting constraints. Examples of high performance office designs are discussed.
Retail design issues include display versus ambient lighting, the use of daylight and maintenance constraints.. Several high performance examples are evaluated to illustrate the concepts.
Design issues for industrial spaces include: high bay vs. low bay spaces, corrosive or dirty environments, hazardous locations, focusing luminaires, aisle lighting, maintenance costs, fixture accessibility and lighting controls. Examples are evaluated to demonstrate the concepts.
Successful management of a lighting project is crucial to achieving its goals. This lesson discusses how to select a lighting designer and type of contractor, and how to make sure all the players coordinate necessary information. The lesson includes an overview of equipment specification, code compliance, construction documentation, purchasing and quality control.
Proper commissioning and maintenance are an essential step to achieving the lighting quality and efficiency intended in a lighting design The value of a project acceptance punchlist is emphasized. Proper maintenance practices, staff training and documented design intent help to sustain energy savings over the long term. Evaluating the project for actual energy savings, costs and occupant benefits provides information to improve the next project.