People-friendly lighting controls
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
People-friendly lighting controls (IP 4/14) was written by Stephanie King, Paul Littlefair, Gareth Howlett, Feride Sener and Cosmin Ticleanu, and published by BRE on 30 May 2014.
In 2012, lighting accounted for 41% of electricity consumption in the UK services sector (including commercial). Improving the energy efficiency of lighting can therefore contribute substantially to overall energy savings.
Lighting controls can allow significant energy savings, and new techniques, such as touchscreens, scene setting and colour changing LEDs, allow flexible and sophisticated control.
Good lighting control systems can prevent energy from being wasted by lighting unoccupied or daylit spaces, or providing too much light when less might be preferred. Energy savings of up to 30 to 40% or more are achievable in some types of building, but clear and accessible system interfaces are necessary if users are to control the lighting properly.
This 8-page information paper explains how to design lighting controls interfaces so that they are easy to use, easy to understand, and give appropriate feedback to users. It is intended for controls manufacturers, lighting designers, building services consultants, ergonomists, facilities managers and building owners.
Its contents are:
- Introduction
- BRE lighting controls experiment
- Findings
- Conclusions and recommendations
- References
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Adequate lighting.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BREEAM.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Commercial lighting.
- Daylight lighting systems.
- General lighting v task lighting.
- Health and wellbeing impacts of natural and artificial lighting.
- Human-centric lighting.
- Lighting and energy efficiency.
- Lighting control systems.
- Lighting.
- Smart lighting market to 2020.
- Smart office lighting.
Featured articles and news
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help the homebuilding sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Planning reform: draft NPPF and industry responses.
Last chance to comment on proposed changes to the NPPF.
A Regency palace of colour and sensation. Book review.
Delayed, derailed and devalued
How the UK’s planning crisis is undermining British manufacturing.
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.