More than two years after the start of the pandemic, it certainly seems like society is finally getting back to some semblance of normalcy. For many of us in the workforce, that means traveling again to industry trade shows and events like the LEDucation conference held in March (read highlights from the event), attending more in-person meetings, and heading back into corporate office settings. This trend is evidenced in EC&M’s recent 2022 Top 40 Electrical Design Firms survey results, which will be featured in the June print issue as well as online. Two years ago at this time, 69% of Top 40 firms were allowing at least 90% of their labor force to work from home (who weren’t doing so pre-pandemic). That number dropped to 44% in 2021 and then to 14% this year, indicating a drastic shift toward more in-person work environments. However, an unprecedented 100% of respondents also reported that their firms will allow remote employees to continue working from home in a part- or full-time capacity after the pandemic is deemed “under control.” That being said, the tricky part is what one employee now considers “normal” might be completely different than his or her counterpart. In order to survive and thrive over the last two years, many businesses were forced to reimagine their definition of office space, bringing about a fundamental shift in the way in which many employees work (especially those who hold traditional office jobs) as well as what they expect in a workspace — not to mention how it all comes together to promote a healthier work/life balance. This reality not only raises the bar for remote home office design and functionality, but it also introduces the need for serious modifications to outdated corporate office settings — and lighting is at the heart of all of it.
That’s not just based on speculation. There’s gobs of industry research to prove it, at least from a perception standpoint. And with perception comes power. Here’s just a sample of a few of the significant stats. One recent study, conducted by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), showed that 68% of employees were dissatisfied with the lighting situation in their offices. According to another survey (conducted by Staples and cited in a recent article on the WeWork website), one-third of workers indicated they’d be happier at work if they had better lighting in their offices. Of those respondents, 80% maintained that having good lighting in the office was important to them. Also coming from ASID, a test case on its new Washington, D.C. headquarters examined the impact of design in the workplace, revealing all employees “have knowledge on circadian lighting and its effects on their health and well-being.” In fact, this research determined that 25% attributed circadian lighting at their new office space to enhanced sleep quality.
As we have done for years, our April issue focuses on the latest developments in lighting and control. This year, we’re proud to present a compilation of articles that will help get you up to speed.
• In our cover story, Freelancer Tim Kridel takes the complicated topic of disinfection lighting and makes it manageable for all, highlighting the latest trends in ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) and how this niche presents opportunities for electrical professionals.
• A Building Science Leader at Lutron, Craig Casey explores “A Contractor’s Guide to Luminaire Level Lighting Controls,” revealing how LLLCs can save time, add value, and future-proof jobs.
• For a technical overview of “How Lighting Helps to Prepare for the Future Integration of IoT Sensors,” read the report from Cooper Lighting’s Martin Mercier, P.Eng. on how lighting control systems are being deployed for a plethora of purposes outside the traditional energy savings strategy.
• Howard Yaphe, CEO of Axis Lighting, dives into how “Dynamic Lighting Provides Designers Future Adaptability,” highlighting how today’s demanding office configurations require flexible lighting solutions.
And don’t miss the lighting and controls product showcase, which presents a roundup of the latest innovative products introduced to the market recently. As the definition of a safe and productive workspace continues to evolve, lighting will inevitably play a critical role in that transformation.
