Efficiency and excess
Lighting in sales areas is essentially all about a lavish, scenic presentation of the goods on the one hand and about the economical considerations of minimising the running costs for electricity, lamp maintenance and air-conditioning on the other. Two steps vividly illustrate how light can be efficiently used in showrooms: firstly, zoning for different illuminances relative to the application and, secondly, a
LED in downlights for ambient lighting and spotlights for accent lighting meet the requirements of good luminous efficacy. Wallwashers reveal the size of the space by emphasising the vertical surfaces. The brightness impression must be subjectively considered against the background of culture, expectation and age, and also seen in relation to the intended brand image. Further considerations such as a differentiated use of lighting control or brighter furniture and room surfaces provide additional potential for optimisation.
Ambient lighting
The direct lighting using downlights creates an average illuminance of 1,900lx on the merchandise. The high luminous efficacy of the LED has a positive effect on the energy consumption, while the good colour rendition and brilliance contribute to making the goods look attractive. The dark spatial impression given by the bright-dark transition on the walls, making the ceiling appear lower, is nevertheless a distraction.
Goods area 1,900lx
Wall 220lx
Main aisle 1,750lx
Efficiency through zoning
By using zoning, the high brightness required for the presentation of goods is prevented from encroaching on the aisles and seating areas where lower illuminances are sufficient. Reducing these zones to 900lx lowers the power requirement on the floor of a department store by about 15%.
Goods area 1,800lx
Wall 200lx
Main aisle 900lx
Efficiency through a differentiated lighting concept
To reduce the overall power consumption on the one hand and to emphasise the uniformity of the goods presentation and scenically present eyecatching features on the other, it is recommended that the ambient lighting is lowered to the benefit of the accent lighting. To give a greater impression of brightness from the overall setting, the proportion of vertical illuminance is increased. Compared with the situation with uniform ambient lighting, this clearly enhances the quality of the merchandise, allowing the connected load to be reduced by about 25%.
Goods area 1,700lx
Wall 290lx
Main aisle 600lx
Lighting control: evening scene
Altering the illuminance in accordance with the time of day can also contribute to reducing the energy requirement. A darker lighting effect in the evening not only creates an appropriate atmosphere, but also saves electricity.
