Sustainable Lighting for a Brighter Future: Living the BREEAM

Cedric Collard - Schréder Sports Segment Manager
Cédric Collard
Business Segment Manager - Industry & large area

Sustainabilitity is a buzzword now, but it didn’t emerge overnight. Thinking wisely about how we create the built environment has been growing in importance over recent decades: back in 1990, the UK-based Building Research Establishment launched BREEAM, the world’s first environmental assessment method, to set the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and management. 


Schréder has been lighting spaces where people live and work for a century, and during that time they’ve learnt a lot about how to effectively light spaces big and small, indoor and outdoor, and busy or quiet. They understand that clients care about energy efficiency, the circular economy and light pollution - all part of the BREEAM process, and all central to Schréder’s thinking. 


Environments People Love to Work In

BREEAM certification is particularly appealing for spaces where people work: offices, hospitals, shopping centres, supermarkets and schools are often certified. Companies see a range of benefits, including lower operating costs, a healthier (and more productive) working environment for employees, and increased property values - as well as the warm glow that comes with taking responsibility for the environment. Those benefits extend to working environments of every type, size and location - BREEAM isn’t just for city centre offices.

Schréder helps customers achieve BREEAM certification web.

French retail giant Carrefour recently built a new distribution centre in Cestas, near Bordeaux, to supply the region’s supermarkets. They commissioned Gicram Groupe to build the vast new site - some 62,380m². The way produce is stored has a huge impact on the food consumers see on shelves, so project managers wanted a high-quality LED lighting solution with low energy and maintenance costs for lighting as crisp as the lettuces being shipped.
 
Schréder lit the vast space with the INDU BAY GEN2, a state-of-the-art luminaire that optimises heat dissipation, accelerates water evacuation and minimises dust accumulation. Loading areas are lit with strategically-placed OMNIflood lights, ensuring drivers have good depth perception when backing into and leaving the warehouse docks with minimal light pollution. All this makes for a light, safe working environment - crucial for fast turnaround times for supermarket suppliers. 


Points Mean Progress

By drawing on our long experience in designing high-performance, low-energy spaces, we can help our customers achieve BREEAM certification. Using Schréder solutions, up to 17 assessment credits can be awarded, according to analysis by the independent engineering firm Encon. That means using light for the safety and well-being of all, from public spaces to higher-risk environments where the consequences of a poorly-lit workplace can be severe. 
 
One area where lighting goes beyond ensuring safe access and into actively improving health is hospitals and their grounds. AZ Zeno is a hospital complex on the Belgian coast, and an architectural triumph. The designers realised that surroundings play a vital role in the healing process, so natural light, comfort and stunning views across the dunes and sea are central to the project.

AZ Zeno hospital in Knokke-Heist is BREEAM certified with sustainable lighting solutions

Sustainable design and construction were integrated from the very start, and Schréder lit the outside areas and facade in full respect of this. Paths and pedestrian areas feature Shuffle columns: a blue light ring on each post is an effective wayfinding tool that draws visitors to the hospital entrance. It also enables concentrated light in high traffic areas, and can integrate other features such as loudspeakers, cameras or WiFi in the future.
 
Piano luminaires are in use in the car parks and access roads. With patients, visitors and ambulances navigating these zones, excellent visibility is indispensable for a safe environment. They also blend into the unique seafront landscape. And to enhance security at the drop off zone and bus stop, they decided to integrate SCULPline floodlights into the canopy. The asymmetric light distribution accentuates these busy areas.


Keeping the World Turning: The Circular Economy

Making the whole world a more pleasant place is at the heart of the philosophy behind the circular economy, which involves thinking about the entire life cycle of a product and is an integral part of BREEAM classification. Schréder has been taking action on this long before the buzzword came along by constantly developing new technologies to reduce the energy consumption of our luminaires. New lighting systems can be set to either dim or switch off entirely when no movement is detected after a specific period of time, making them ideal for spaces with variable footfall, such as warehouses, distribution centres, car parks and urban centres. 
 
Our engineers work closely with every client to work out what version of circularity will suit them best - all part of the sustainability we build into helping them build. Find out more in this brochure.
 

About the writer

Cédric joined Schréder in 2013 with a solid experience in marketing. With his expertise and industry knowledge, Cédric leads the Industry and Large Area Business segments including Sport Lighting and Breeam certification. He collaborates with our research, product development, sales teams worldwide and sport associations to deliver sustainable and energy efficient lighting solutions, tailored to each individual project using the latest in lighting calculation software, lighting management systems and BIM techniques.

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