flexiblefullpage -

HORIZONTV FEATURING BD+C: WATCH EPISODES ON DEMAND AT HORIZONTV

Menu View Full Menu
Subscribe Here
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Study analyzes effectiveness of reflective ceilings

Study analyzes effectiveness of reflective ceilings

Engineers at Brinjac quantify the illuminance and energy consumption levels achieved by increasing the ceiling’s light reflectance.

By C.C. Sullivan and Barbara Horwitz-Bennett | September 16, 2013
Continue Reading
To quantify the illuminance and energy consumption levels achieved by increasing the ceiling’s light reflectance (LR), ceiling system manufacturer Armstrong World Industries commissioned Brinjac Engineering to conduct two controlled studies. (Illuminance is a measure of the intensity of light on a unit area of a surface.)
 
In the first study, four different room configurations were outfitted with a direct recessed 2X2-foot parabolic troffer and an indirect pendant. One set of rooms was given a 75% reflective ceiling; the others, a 90% reflective ceiling. After measuring work plane illuminance in both sets of rooms, Brinjac found the 0.90 LR ceiling to increase direct lighting levels by just 2–5%; however, indirect lighting levels jumped by almost 22% and offered greater lighting uniformity.
 
Although work plane illuminance from direct lighting only increased modestly when changing the light reflectance from 0.75 to 0.90, the effect of indirect lighting on work plane illuminance was significant. In addition, the higher LR value enabled a reduction in indirect luminaire fixtures and a decrease in lighting power density.
 
Based on these results, specifiers can use fewer fixtures or lower wattage levels to achieve required lighting levels, which can reduce energy costs, as analyzed in the second study where the 90% reflective ceiling tile was installed in the same spaces with an optimized lighting design and compared to the 75% and 90% ceiling with the original lighting scheme.
 
After comparing the three ceiling designs, the Brinjac researchers found that:
• Spacing between indirect luminaire sections with the 0.90 ceiling could be increased, thereby reducing the total number of luminaires required to achieve light levels afforded by the 0.75 ceiling.
• The 0.90 reflective ceiling with indirect fixtures yielded a 23% lower lighting power density than the 0.75 ceiling, and 21% lower than the parabolic troffer layout.
• This lighting power density reduction was calculated to achieve 9% HVAC energy costs savings, as compared to the 0.75 ceiling, and 7% in relation to the troffer layout.
 
For more information on this study, see: http://www.armstrong.com/common/c2002/content/files/38652.pdf. 

Tags

Related Stories

| Aug 11, 2010

Building Systems commissioning and retro-commissioning training program: Chicago, September 23, 2009

| Aug 11, 2010

ASHRAE issues correction on changes to addendum r to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007 on ventilation for IAQ

| Aug 11, 2010

AIA course: MEP Technologies For Eco-Effective Buildings

Sustainable building trends are gaining steam, even in the current economic downturn. More than five billion square feet of commercial space has either been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program or is registered with LEED. It is projected that the green building market's dollar value could more than double by 2013, to as muc...

| Aug 11, 2010

Integrated Project Delivery builds a brave, new BIM world

Three-dimensional information, such as that provided by building information modeling, allows all members of the Building Team to visualize the many components of a project and how they work together. BIM and other 3D tools convey the idea and intent of the designer to the entire Building Team and lay the groundwork for integrated project delivery.

| Aug 11, 2010

Great Solutions: Technology

19. Hybrid Geothermal Technology The team at Stantec saved $800,000 in construction costs by embedding geothermal piping into the structural piles at the WestJet office complex in Calgary, Alb., rather than drilling boreholes adjacent to the building site, which is the standard approach. Regular geothermal installation would have required about 200 boreholes, each about four-inches in diameter ...

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -

Top Articles

native1 -

More In Category

halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021