Sustainability pays:

A report released in 2003 asserts that financial investment in a green building can pay for itself 10 times over. The report concluded that sustainable buildings lower operations and maintenance costs between $50 and $70 per sq. ft., or about 10 times the additional costs associated with green buildings.

U.S. Green Building Council

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) started in 1993. It administers the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Several points in the LEED system pertain directly to lighting design.

Other key players include:

AIA Committee on the Environment
International Dark Sky Association
IESNA/ASHRAE
Lighting Research Center


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Sustainability is good businessAny business should be sustainable. What is the alternative?

What is the alternative to not having a sustainable business?

What is the alternative to not having a sustainable customer?

Sustainability defined

"Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." From Our Common Future (1987)

Describes a state that can be maintained at a certain level 

A central business philosophy.

Cradle to Cradle Thinking

  • No longer "cradle to grave."
  • A framework that is essentially waste free (1970's)
  • Products can be reused or recycled to make new products.

Sustainable Design is Designing to...Sustainable design includes grounds, structure, mechanical systems and lighting

  • Minimize the depletion of natural resources
  • Minimize damage to the environment and biodiversity

Sustainable Building Design Reduces Impact of

  • Producing building components
  • Construction process
  • Life cycle of the building (heating, water and electricity use, carpet cleaning etc)