Education sector lighting

Good lighting quality is critical to supporting concentration and maintaining a good learning environment.

Things you can do

Lighting must not only be functional. It must also create an effect that pupils will find comfortable.

Creating an environment

Good lighting quality is critical to providing a good learning environment where students can maintain high concentration levels. You need sufficient levels and quality of light for them to perform tasks. But that's not all - students also have to interpret the lighting effect as a pleasant environment.

With this in mind, there are a number of cost effective and basic initiatives you can take:

• Maximise natural daylight levels, while avoiding glare
• Light walls and ceilings with bright room surface colours, so people can safely move around the space
• Provide the correct colour rendering and colour temperature to improve the feeling of comfort
• Allow zoning so staff can dim lights or switch them off when they are not required, thereby saving electricity
• Find the correct amount of lighting level and contrast so students can focus their attention on focal points like lecture stands. Lecturers also need to be free from glare in order to make eye contact with students.

Next Steps

Take the initiative on more efficient lighting. Start with our lighting assessment tool, then talk to an expert.

Take the RightLight assessment

As a first step, try our online lighting assessment tool. It measures your lighting performance against the standards of the New Zealand Green Building Council and also the Building Code. You'll see how your business compares - and get some valuable tips on what you need to do to improve.

With that information in hand you'll be better equipped to talk to a lighting expert.

Talk to a professional

Lighting is a specialist area, so it pays to talk with a qualified lighting professional. Ideally they should be IES accredited (illumination Engineers Society).

Ask them to assess your specific needs and suggest the most appropriate energy efficient lighting designs and lamp options for your requirements.

Make sure you get a clear cost/benefit analysis of the different efficient lighting options available including payback period/ROI and lifecycle costs (including maintenance costs).