NLB Extends Lighting Transformation Awards Entry Deadline

The National Lighting Bureau extended the submission deadline for the first Annual Lighting Transformation Awards. The extended deadline is September 1, 2023. These will be the first ever retrofit awards geared at recognizing those lighting design projects making a sustainable difference. These awards are to be held during the 2023 NALMCO Annual Convention in Palm Springs, CA. 

The National Lighting Bureau is pleased to introduce the new Lighting Transformation Awards for 2023. This program recognizes excellence in lighting retrofit projects – defined as those projects involving minimum alteration of existing building materials. Through the creative use of lighting systems and controls, these projects should illustrate the value of lighting, including but not limited to improved visual performance, promotion of health and wellness, environmental impact including reduced light pollution/preservation of nighttime lighting quality, enhanced safety and security, and increased overall occupant satisfaction. The main intent of the program is to promote best practices for a variety of indoor and outdoor lighting applications – office buildings, industrial and warehouse, schools, healthcare facilities, retail, and hospitality. The program aims to recognize and showcase projects that provide a narrative and “how to” guide for others with similar lighting retrofit challenges. See some examples: 

- An outdoor area lighting project that is “dark sky” friendly, reduces glare and/or light trespass and enhances customer/tenant sense of safety and security by improving lighting uniformity. - A retail retrofit that saves energy, improves light levels and visual interest, and increases sales. - An office/rental space with improved light levels and controls that can increase flexibility for various tenant needs. 

- Warehouse or industrial retrofits that improve light distribution on tasks to reduce errors and improve safety. 
The key elements of the project submittal are to describe the process at arriving at the final lighting retrofit solution, and to provide the metrics that demonstrate why the retrofit solution is successful. 

Anyone may enter a project for the Lighting Transformation Awards, and there are no fees for entry. Projects should have been completed within the 2021, 2022 and 2023 calendar years. Submissions should be entered via the designated online submittal form and completed no later than August 1, 2023. 

Judging criteria for the retrofit projects include: 

● Thoroughness in determining retrofit design options. 
● Documented improvement in lighting quality (including but not limited to - before and after light levels/uniformity, glare control, color enhancement, post-installation occupant surveys) ● Energy effectiveness (including controls strategy) – including before and after energy usage. ● Universality - how easily does the design apply to similar applications.
● Sustainability (ease of maintenance, user interface effectiveness, use of recycled materials for product and packaging or materials that can be recycled). 
● Special credit points (up to 20 points) can be awarded at the discretion of the judges for extra challenges and project impact - e.g., budget, timing, location challenges/limitations, and social benefit (community impact, pro bono projects, historic preservation). 
● Including supplemental data beyond images and lighting specs (e.g., planning documents, meeting minutes, social media comments) is encouraged. 
Winning projects will be recognized during the 2023 NALMCO Annual Convention in Palm Springs, California. More details to follow.