Under the Right Light

Good lighting is key for DZ Engineering, which is responsible for lighting up Singapore’s F1 racetracks, museums, castles, and UNESCO Heritage sites

Although there are thousands of lighting specialists around the world, their work remains in great demand, and their profession is enriched by this diversity, says DZ Engineering GM Mr. Roberto Grilli. “Everyone can look for his/her own niche of specialization but being ‘unique’ and relevant is key.” ‘Good’ lighting depends on the nature of the project, Mr. Grilli says; a sports facility needs a different approach from a UNESCO Heritage church. In each case, the project and its immediate environment have to be analyzed. The lighting effects have to be balanced between quantity and quality. The color of the light source must be adjusted to avoid discomfort to users. And the final solution has to go through analysis, regulations, guidelines and clients’ requirements. “We tend to remember the unpleasant situations than the comfortable ones. If we investigate why we feel totally relaxed or tired after a prolonged time in an environment, we might realize that the reason has something to do with lighting.” In Singapore, DZ Engineering lights up the F1 racetracks along with historical buildings during the race week. “We have lighted up more than 150 places of worship, several museums, iconic castles and UNESCO Heritage sites.” Since the early 2000s, DZ Engineering has adopted a patented solution designed by its own R&D department for lighting flux control and consumption. “With such a system, we are able to create the right scenario for any situations using only the required lux level. We are also able to reduce the light spillage and increase its energy saving capacity. We feel that it is strongly important to be socially responsible to the environment.” As the world energy consumption grows, finding solutions in every field of application becomes crucial, Mr. Grilli says. Latest data show that almost 45 per cent of the lighting sources used globally are LEDs, which will grow to 60 per cent by 2020. LED technology has done very well in terms of reliability, color temperature and power consumption. In the near future, LED sources will be the key to moderate the impact. “World population is projected to reach 10 billion in less than 40 years. Mankind has lived for thousands of years in contact with nature, but future generations might live most of their time without sunlight in their underground offices and apartments.”