Energy Is Central to Nearly Every Major Challenge and Opportunity the World Faces.

RESIDENTIAL HOME

Eneref reports how a builder created a home with human-centric lighting. It’s easier to read, cook, and even enjoy colors with natural interior daylight.

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MUNICIPAL BUILDING

Eneref reports how California library used human-centric lighting to increase the number of patrons using their space by creating a community center.

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MUNICIPAL BUILDING

Eneref reports how a fire station use natural human-centric lighting in the living space to create a happier and more productive environment for firemen.

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Key Facts

Greenhouse Gas

Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

Combustible Fuels

Indoor air pollution from using combustible fuels for household energy caused 4.3 million deaths in 2012, with women and girls accounting for 6 out of every 10 of these.

Energy

The share of renewable energy in final energy consumption has reached 17.5% in 2015.

Eneref Lighting Initiative

Here’s how people responded to energy efficiency solutions.

I think that the construction of the Velux skylights I specified in properties are just phenomenal. Just a beautiful piece of engineering. They're beautifully made… very thoughtful.

Shelley James - Founder > View Eneref Report

We absolutely love the Velux skylights in our artisan house. You can get really nice cross ventilation. You open up those skylights and it brings a gentle breeze right in that flows through the space.

Jeff Julian - Vice President > View Eneref Report

Skylights are not that expensive. It’s a really nice way to add some additional natural light if someone’s interested in feeling more outdoor-indoor.

Sarah Cooper - New Home Sales Consultant > View Eneref Report

Skylights add to the room’s aesthetic. Everybody who’s got a sunroom says it’s their favorite room in their house.

Michael Hoy - President and CEO > View Eneref Report

I couldn’t imagine buying a new vehicle under artificial lighting conditions.

Peter Hite - American Artist > View Eneref Report

We thought the modular skylight design was beautiful. And it also made for a much easier installation.

Stella Betts - Architect > View Eneref Report

Energy Distribution

Energy supply is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG )emissions. Emissions from energy supply can be reduced significantly by replacing current world average coal-fired power plants with modern, highly efficient natural gas combined-cycle power plants or combined heat and power plants, provided that natural gas is available and the fugitive emissions associated with its extraction and supply are low or mitigated.

The energy supply sector converts over 75% of total primary energy supply into other forms, namely, electricity, heat, refined oil products, coke, enriched coal, and natural gas. Industry consumes 84% of the final use of coal and peat, 26 % of petroleum products, 47% of natural gas, 40% of electricity, and 43% of heat. Transportation consumes 62% of liquid fuels final use. The building sector is responsible for 46% of final natural gas consumption, 76% of combustible renewables and waste, 52% of electricity use, and 51 % of heat. Forces driving final energy-consumption evolution in all these sectors have a significant impact on the evolution of energy supply systems, both in scale and structure.

Asia has become the major emitter with 41 % share. China’s emissions surpassed the United States, and India’s surpassed Russia’s. Asia accounted for 83 % in 2000 – 2010.

limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid and far-reaching transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050. This means that any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO2 from the air. [Source]

Emission Trends and Drivers

Multiple options exist to reduce energy supply sector GHG emissions. These include energy efficiency improvements and fugitive emission reductions in fuel extraction as well as in energy conversion, transmission, and distribution systems; fossil fuel switching; and low-GHG energy supply technologies such as renewable energy, nuclear power, and carbon dioxide capture and storage.

Renewable energy currently constitutes a relatively small fraction of global energy supply, especially if one excludes traditional biomass. However, renewable energy provided almost 21 % of global electricity supply in 2012.

Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the world faces today. Be it for jobs, security, climate change, food production or increasing incomes, access to energy for all is essential. Working towards this goal is especially important as it interlinks with other Sustainable Development Goals. Focusing on universal access to energy, increased energy efficiency and the increased use of renewable energy through new economic and job opportunities is crucial to creating more sustainable and inclusive communities and resilience to environmental issues like climate change. 

There needs to be more access to clean fuel and technology and more progress needs to be made regarding integrating renewable energy into end-use applications in buildings, transport and industry. Public and private investments in energy also need to be increased and there needs to be more focus on regulatory frameworks and innovative business models to transform the world’s energy systems. [Source]

  1. Does natural interior daylighting pay for itself?

    Lighting accounts for roughly one third of electricity used by commercial or educational facilities in the United States. Whereas natural interior daylight requires no energy beyond sunlight. And Natural interior daylight is about 10-times more efficient then rooftop PV cells for lighting a room.

  2. How do students preform under natural interior daylight?

    I am text block. Click ediThere is also plenty of evidence that daylighting improves occupant productivity in both schools and offices. Especially in learning environments, skylit classrooms provide a natural and stimulating space for teacher and student. While studies show that poor lighting adversely affects learning, daylighting has been proven to increase student performance in math and reading scores, as well as improving attendance. t button to change this text.

  3. How do students preform under natural interior daylight?

    I am text block. Click ediThere is also plenty of evidence that daylighting improves occupant productivity in both schools and offices. Especially in learning environments, skylit classrooms provide a natural and stimulating space for teacher and student. While studies show that poor lighting adversely affects learning, daylighting has been proven to increase student performance in math and reading scores, as well as improving attendance. t button to change this text.

  4. How do office workers preform under natural interior daylight?

    Studies show that office workers have few sick days. The human performance numbers in daylighting systems are important because the ROI for daylighting installations can sometimes be a difficult sell. In fact, the human performance gains can outweigh the energy savings, where human performance can be measured in financial terms.

Portrait of african woman enjoying the sun, waling on road.
Right To Daylight Campaign

“Having beautiful spaces was really important and a large part of that was having daylight available at the branch.” 

FAQ: Why don't we see more natural interior daylight in buildings today?

Eneref Institute has identified seven primary reasons we don’t see more natural interior daylight in our buildings. To learn the seven market obstacles to daylighting, download Eneref Institute’s report.

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