Presenter: Amardeep M. Dugar, PhD, IALD, IES, FISLE, FSLL

This lecture discusses circular economy in relation to lighting by examining the different stages in a circular design process and highlighting key strategies for incorporating the principles of the circular economy into lighting. Circular economy is defined by three underlying principles – eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature. These three principles leave the door open to countless strategies and innovations as there is no single way to design a product or service that creates no waste and pollution or a business model that keeps products in use for years and years. In the circular economy system diagram also known as the butterfly diagram proposed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, approaches such as reuse, sharing, remanufacturing, and refurbishment sit closer to the centre of the multiple material loops, while recycling sits farthest away. As a rule of thumb, the closer the loop is to the centre of the diagram, the more valuable the approach.

Lighting is ubiquitous within the built environment be it the creation of safer cities or the illumination of workplaces or our homes. Adopting circular economy principles to transform how lighting is designed and manufactured within the built environment will require consideration for the user as well as the system within which the lighting will exist. Every stage of the lighting design process will require zooming-in on the user needs and zooming-out to consider the systemic implications, oscillating continuously between these two equally critical perspectives. Therefore, this lecture focuses on two areas: one, how materials are used, assembled and dismantled within the product design process; and two, the lighting design decisions that are made to define how lighting products are used within the built environment.

Lighting designers have an influence as the specifiers of lighting projects. Lighting manufacturers and suppliers have an influence as the performance of their luminaires and its supporting ecosystem impacts the circular economy performance of these projects. The lecture will briefly touch upon the SLL’s Circular Economy Assessment Method (CEAM) to give information to all: enable supply push by creating a ‘nuts and bolts’ tool for manufacturers; and stimulate demand by giving specifiers the questions they need to ask.

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About the speaker

A trained architect and an advocate for all the elements of lighting – design, education and research – Dr. Amardeep M. Dugar is the founding principal of Lighting Research & Design. After completing a Masters degree in Architectural Lighting from University of Wismar/Germany, he pursued a Ph.D. from Victoria University of Wellington/New Zealand to solidify his academic and professional leadership role into a career at a higher level. His notable achievements include being named the Outstanding Young Scientist at the India International Science Fest 2016 and 40-Under-40 Hottest Lighting Designers in the World 2017 by Lighting Magazine UK amongst others. Aside from working on high profile projects and teaching at several architecture schools, he has been instrumental in conducting lighting workshops educating students and professionals about the importance of lighting. Amardeep has presented at several international conferences such as the IES Annual Conference 2012, 2015, 2020 & 2022; IES Research Symposium 2016; Light Fair International 2014, 2020 & 2023; IALD Enlighten 2014, 2016 & 2019; Light Focus 2004 & 2006; and Professional Lighting Design Convention 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 & 2019 to name a few. He is also the cofounder of an online platform for lighting called the Virtual Lighting Design Community. He currently serves in the IES Board of Directors and is Chair of the IES Global Development Committee.