Lighting designers have a responsibility to implement sustainable practices into their work through not just design, but specification as well. Ratings systems, like LEED, provide material sourcing guidelines for many building materials. However, they do not typically do so for luminaires or other lighting system components. Practices such as specifying manufacturers and materials regional to the project site, choosing fixtures made of sustainable materials, and opting for manufacturers who operate using sustainable practices are the designer’s responsibility in the end. Alongside the collective efforts of the project team, attendees will understand how standardizing lighting procurement practices can help reduce the environmental impact of a project. Attendees will understand the value of prioritizing a sustainable lighting specification process providing them with clear benefits that can be used in conversations with project stakeholders. These practices will improve an organization’s understanding of sustainable specification, lead to a standardized approach to sustainable design within a firm, and support efforts towards a more sustainable future.

Credits: 1 AIA LU (HSW)