Lighting Considerations - An Introduction

By Marshall Rimerman

How important is lighting in your home, office, or life for that matter? Well, without it we can't work, play, or even see when the sun goes down. Yet this basic necessity is rarely given the design time or budget on a residential construction project. Quite a bit of money is spent on the marble, woodwork, and faux painting in a high-end project, but where's the beauty if it cannot be seen properly?

Consumers are becoming more technically aware. Consumers want the latest technology in their entertainment, environmental, security, and yes, their lighting systems. I am not simply referring to the means of control of their lighting, but to the entire system. Consumers want a resource that can recommend the right fixtures, bulbs, placement, voltage, and control that will enhance their life in their home.

Historically, this has fallen to the electrical contractor, interior designer, or architect. While these professionals, as a whole, are extremely talented and competant, they lack the specialized knowledge required to optimize a system for a particular client. Just as a client will call upon a CEDIA member to design and install the distributed audio/video system or home theater, they should call upon a qualified lighting designer to develop the lighting system.

The lighting designer will listen to the needs of the client as well as the requirements of the other systems and professionals that are part of the project. A system will be designed that will provide proper illumination for the project while complimenting the associated systems. A lighting designer will usually charge a fee for the design that is refundable if the specified materials are purchased through him/her.

My goal in writing this column is to educate consumers, professionals, and other CEDIA members on the importance of proper lighting. In subsequent articles I will discuss types of lighting, uses, layout, control, specialty lighting, landscape lighting, bulbs, transformers, and more. I look forward to your questions and comments, please e-mail me at the below mentioned address.

Marshall Rimerman is a manufacturer's representative in the lighting industry. He has been a member of CEDIA for over five years, and has consulted to interior designers, architects, builders, and clients. Marshall can be reached by telephone at (410) 363-2860/ Fax: (410) 363-2859 E-mail: torrens@erols.com