Municipal and public buildings · Lighting
Lighting in municipal and public buildings: what the SRI measures
For lighting, the SRI does not measure the lamp but the control: does the light switch off when nobody is there, and does it dim with daylight. This is often the cheapest domain to score points in.
In short
- 1This page shows how the Smart Readiness Indicator assesses the Lighting domain for municipal and public sector buildings.
- 2At town halls, libraries and community centres, lighting carries full weight in the score because usage patterns vary significantly.
- 3Automatic occupancy detection and daylight control are often the cheapest way to improve a building's score.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupancy control for indoor lighting L-1a · A · 4 levels | Manual on/off switch | Automatic detection (manual on / dimmed or auto off) | highest level |
| Control artificial lighting power based on daylight levels L-2 · 5 levels | Manual (central) | Automatic dimming including scene-based light control (during time intervals, dynamic and adapted lighting scenes are set, for example, in terms of illuminance level, different correlated colour temperature (CCT) and the possibility to change the light distribution within the space according to e.g. design, human needs, visual tasks) | – |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 4 percentage points (from 33 to 37 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
Why does lighting count so heavily for this type of building?
Municipal and public sector buildings have mixed usage patterns. A library is open during the day, a community centre mainly in the evening, a theatre irregularly.
For these buildings, the Lighting domain receives maximum weight within the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), namely 3 out of 3 points. This is because effective lighting control here directly prevents energy waste, precisely due to the varying occupancy.
What exactly does the SRI measure in lighting?
The SRI does not look at the type of lamp, but at the control system behind it. Does the light turn off automatically when a space is empty? Does brightness adjust to daylight?
This is assessed through two smart-ready services. The first, L-1a, concerns occupancy control for interior lighting. This service has four functionality levels, from a manual switch (level 0) to automatic detection with manual switching on and automatic switching off (level 3).
The second service, L-2, concerns regulation of artificial light output based on daylight level. Here the levels range from manual control per room (level 1) to automatic dimming with scene-based lighting control (level 4). At this highest level, light scenes adapt to time of day, task or need.
Why is this domain often the quickest gain?
Of all domains within the SRI methodology, lighting is usually the cheapest to improve. Sensors and dimming controls are relatively simple to install, even in existing municipal buildings.
For a portfolio with an exemplary function and reporting obligation, this is a logical starting point. Investment is limited, while the score in this domain can quickly rise from level 0 or 1 to level 2 or 3.
What does this mean for the portfolio as a whole?
Municipalities typically manage multiple building types at once, with varying usage times and functions. A portfolio approach works better here than separate assessments per building.
By addressing lighting as the first domain, a consistent baseline is created for the entire portfolio, before moving to more costly domains such as heating or ventilation.
What this means for you
- Owner
- Start by mapping which functionality level each location currently achieves for occupancy control and daylight control, as this domain often delivers the fastest improvement in score against relatively low costs. There are often subsidy opportunities for this type of improvement, making the investment even more attractive for a municipal portfolio.
- Tenant
- Users of a library or community centre notice mainly that lights turn on and off automatically when occupied, and that lighting moves with daylight outside. This prevents unnecessarily bright light on a sunny day and unnecessary lighting in an empty space.
- Advisor
- Pay attention during assessment to the difference between automatic switching and automatic dimming, as this distinction determines whether a building scores at level 2, 3 or 4 for service L-2. Also account for mixed usage times across the portfolio, as this can affect prioritisation between buildings.
Next step
Want to know where your building stands?