The Lit Interior

Abstract

This book is intended as a design guide for those individuals in the fields of electrical engineering, architecture, and interior design who will one day design lighting systems for others to build. The book is organized so that an individual with little or no training in lighting design will become familiar with the basic principles and psychology behind good lighting before design procedures are addressed. Discussions on the process of vision and the properties of light set the stage for exploring the various tools at the designer’s disposal for creating and manipulating light to provide a desired effect in an architectural space. The reader is then led through the conceptual design process, which entails the use of manufacturer’s offerings, codes and guidelines for space lighting, as well as calculation methods to predict the performance of a design. The conceptual design is rounded out by exploring methods for powering and controlling a lighting system. A realistic design problem is begun early in the journey, and is completed, bit-by-bit, as each new concept is explored and applied to the design. Documentation of the design is the final stage of the process, which culminates in a finished set of plans and detailed specifications for the project. A final segment of the book, called ‘The Second Time Around’, is devoted to retrofitting existing inefficient lighting systems with new, energy-efficient components to improve light quality and reduce the energy consumption of older systems. Extensive use of the Internet is used throughout the design process. Instructions for downloading and using manufacturer’s data, calculation engines, and other tools are included in the text and put to use in the exercises. In the interest of continuity, Internet information for this book is almost exclusively that of Lithonia Lighting Co., a lighting equipment manufacturer. Other