EBC Annex 90 / SHC Task 70 Low Carbon, High Comfort Integrated Lighting

Overview

The aim of this project, which is being operated jointly with the IEA TCP on Solar Heating and Cooling Task 70, is to identify and support implementing the potentials of lighting (electric, façade: daylighting and passive solar) in decarbonization with a global perspective. It is aligning the new integrative understanding of humans’ light needs with digitized lighting at building- and building-related urban scales. The project scope is on general lighting systems for indoor environments and the interrelation of buildings (facades) with urban settings. The focus is on lighting appliances in non-domestic buildings. In technical terms, the project deals with integrating:

• daylight utilization by enhanced facade technologies and other architectural solutions,
• electric lighting schemes addressing technology and design strategies in the context of progressing digitalization, and
• lighting control systems and strategies with special emphasis on visual and non-visual user needs with special emphasis on the interface of day- and electric lighting.

This is put under the constraint of low carbon emission for fulfilling the lighting services in an life cycle assessment (LCA) / circular economy context. The project is targeting building designers and consultants, industry (façade, electric lighting, and software companies), owners (investors), and authorities by providing strategic, technical, and economic information and with network activities helping these stakeholders overcome barriers in identifying and then pursuing and implementing low carbon lighting concepts and installations. Thus, a focus mainly on energy efficiency will be widened. The overall objective of the activity is to identify and support implementing the potentials of lighting (electric, façade: daylighting & passive solar) in the decarbonization on a global perspective while aligning the new integrative understanding of humans’ light needs with digitized lighting on a building and a building related urban scale. This can be subdivided into the following specific objectives:

• Actively support broadening the view on lighting solutions as a whole in the context of decarbonization. Help bridge the gap between a component view (manufacturer’s focus) and design-oriented system approaches. Support the transition from a rather pure energy focused view so far to a LCA perspective. On this basis, identify key impact factors, and develop the most effective strategies and roadmaps while including regional specifics.  
• Contextualize this with the fast-developing digitization of buildings/lighting installations on the technology, design, and operational side. Add to selected open points in the digital chain like better design processes.
• Align this with the still growing understanding of user needs; here especially build upon results from earlier projects
• Integrate competencies: Bring the different involved players (electric lighting, façade, industry, controls) so far not connected on low carbon solutions together in workshops and specific projects. Create added value also by transferring into standardization, regulations, and building certificates. 
• Foster the broad implementation of low carbon solutions, also and especially in developing countries, by promoting tailored “Low Tech – High Impact solutions” through demonstration, design guidelines, and workshops.