Research matters - Illuminating Engineering Society

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
outdoor lighting, it has become an
article of faith that, in interior spaces,
more is better.
But, as he points out so eloquently,
it is not just the lack of darkness
that diminishes our experiences,it is
also the lack of contrast,that flow of
light and darkness through space
that is also missing. Balance is all,
says Mr.Bartholomew,and proceeds
to show us how balance may be
found,not with a calculator and light
meter, but with some basic understanding
of human nature, a little
history and some poetry. Then we
are free “to allow light and darkness
to find their true harmony.”
Derek Marshall
Derek Marshall Lighting
Sandwich, NH
Criticism Not Warranted
In response to Tony J. Adams’s
letter to the editor (LD+A, March
2004), I think Mr. Adams’s criticism
of Stan Walerczyk’s “Retrofit &
Upgrades article (LD+A, Sept 2003)
is too severe. Mr. Walerczyk is a
very competent retrofitter, as Mr.
Adams acknowledges, and as such,
tries many new techniques and
technologies to conserve energy.
You don’t have to be a research scientist
to discover empirically when
something “works,” and Mr.
Walerczyk has considerable field
experience. His articles are full of
helpful suggestions for saving energy,
even if not supported by “scientific
facts,” and he should not be discouraged
from advocating solutions
that may not be backed by
research, but with examples from
his own observations.
I too, am impressed by Sam
Berman’s scotopic/photopic ratio as
it affects visual enhancement theory.
While it does not enjoy unanimous
acceptance in the research community,
Mr. Walerczyk’s reporting his
success with it. There are research
people who disagree with the reasons
for the S/P ratio’s apparent
success, and until they can dispute
its scientific basis,it remains an opinion,
not a “fact,” and worthy of being
Circle 57 on Reader Service Card.
reported on and advocated by people
like Stan Walerczyk who have
tried it and found that it works.
Bill Warren
Willard L.Warren Associates,
New York, NY
The Case for Visors
I enjoyed Doug Paulin’s article
“Lighting for Quality” (LD+A, April
2004) and agree that visors are
underused. But the visor has to be
used because the lighting industry
has not, and as far as I can see, will
not stop making beam patterns that
are great on efficiency but are no
better than a flat board behind a
light source.
This Society should bite the bullet
and mandate fixture design that
puts light where it is needed.This, in
turn, will make designers use equipment
that will light, but not pollute.
Bernard Elfring,
IESNA Member Emeritus
Yarmouth, ME