Light management below ground: lighting technology in tunnelling / Lichtmanagement unter Tage: Beleuchtungstechnik im Tunnelbau

Abstract

New lighting technologies are everywhere and LED (light emitting diode) has become a popular search term for buyers of lighting equipment. The energy saving potential is enormous and energy efficiency has become important in any company, from agricultural and industrial businesses to service providers. To encourage this development, a new law was introduced by the Austrian Ministry of Science, Research and Business in 2014 that requires businesses to determine energy saving potential and reduce energy consumption. Replacement of outdated lighting technologies does have great potential for energy saving, but light is also an essential factor in the world of work, and companies have long underestimated its influence on the performance and motivation of staff. Lighting was and still is a precondition for working underground, but how much light is needed? The following article is intended to draw attention to the importance of light below ground and indicate possible effects on performance and health.