Sparks Electrical News June 2020

LIGHTING

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Layered lighting explained A n interior space can boast the most beautiful artwork, stylish fur- niture, and luxurious textiles but if the lighting is not layered it will all look flat and uninteresting. Layering lighting is the process of combining different types of lighting to achieve a multidimensional, aes- thetically pleasing, and functional space. To enhance a room’s visual ap- peal you need to know what the three main types of lighting are and how to use them. Ambient lighting Ambient lighting is sometimes called general lighting. It’s the foundation of lighting in a room and serves as the primary source of illumination. This type of lighting makes the room comfortable to use and safe to move around in. In a home environment, pendants, chandeliers, and flush- mount ceiling lights are the most common fixtures used to create am-

Task lighting This layer of lighting offers directional illumination so you can carry out certain activities more effectively, for example reading a book or chop- ping food. Before you select task lighting fixtures, it’s important that you evaluate what activity gets performed in that area so that you choose an appropriate fixture to meet your specific needs. For example, if you are looking for a bedside lamp to provide illumination to read at night, then a wall-mounted lamp with an adjustable neck may be your best option. Task lighting fixtures include lamps, bathroom vanity lighting, pendants suspended above work surfaces, and under cabinet lighting. To reduce or eliminate potential glare, ensure that the bulb is shielded from the viewing angle. Depending on its placement, a single task light can result in shad- ows across the work surface. Use two different task lights to minimise the shadows.

Accent lighting Sometimes known as the decorative layer of lighting, accent lighting is used to create drama and highlight special objects or areas of the home. Interesting architecture, sentimental ornaments, and treasured artwork all benefit from accent lighting. While its main function is to showcase and enhance, accent lighting also serves as a secondary light source to fill in the gaps where ambient light does not reach. To get the most out of your accent lighting fixtures make sure the light is three times as bright as the surrounding space. Wall sconces, track lighting, downlights, torchère lamps, and LED rope lights are all popu- lar choices for accent lighting fixtures.

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bient lighting. In commercial spaces such as offices and shops, commonly used fixtures include recessed lights and LED panels. Ambient lighting is the base lighting in a room and must be layered with two other types of lighting – accent lighting and task lighting. Study finds effective outdoor lighting cuts crime I n contrast to previous studies, a New York trial in a public housing area shows an expected and dramatically significant correlation be- tween crime at night and outdoor lighting. It has long been thought that better street illumination can reduce offenses, but there has never been any rigorous evidence – until now. In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Crimi- nal Justice, the New York City Police Department and the New York City Housing Authority, the scientific research team Crime Lab designed a six-month randomised controlled trial involving nearly 80 public housing developments, all of which had elevated levels of crime. About half of the developments received new, temporary street lights and half did not. The study found the developments that re- ceived the new lights experienced crime rates that were significantly lower than would have been the case without the new lights. Among oth- er findings, the study concluded that increased levels of lighting led to a 7% overall reduction in so-called index crimes – a subset of serious of- fenses that includes murder, robbery, and aggra- vated assault, as well as certain property crimes. Specifically, at night there was a 39% reduc- tion in index crimes. Previous reports into lighting and crime undertaken in the US and the UK over the past two decades show a mixed picture, with lighting reducing crime in about half the studies but, significantly, not at night. The New York study, by contrast, shows an expected and dramatically significant correlation with crime at night. The results of the lights project have impli- cations for both New York and cities around the world. Unlike many jurisdictions around the country, New York has shown that it is possible to reduce crime and, at the same time, lower its prison population. Nearly 80 public housing de- velopments in New York City participated in the six-month randomised controlled trial with new outdoor lighting. The city’s success in this area is credited in large part to innovations in policing undertaken in recent years by the NYPD. The results dem- onstrate that not only can environmental design impact crime, but that investments in changes to the physical environment such as new street lights can augment efforts to promote public safety and help reduce citywide inequalities in crime reduction without having to resort to build- ing new prisons or incarcerating more people. The researchers said there is “evidence that residents appreciate the new resources intro- duced into communities during the lights pro- ject.” The survey results suggest that two-thirds of housing authority residents felt favourably about the new lights.

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JUNE 2020