20 Sep 2021

Lighting by Ström wants to create an enlightened industry

The ability to install modern and energy-efficient lighting has changed with new technology. The newly started Umeå company Lighting by Ström wants to improve knowledge about lighting and focus the spotlight on how the industry can change towards a circular economy and sustainability.
- There is a lot to gain here, both for those who own a property and the people who move in the building. Our mission is to show the benefits of taking the help of a lighting designer, says returnee Anna Clara Sandgren.

Anna Clara moved in the middle of a burning pandemic from London to Umeå together with her partner Emilio Hernandez. At the same time, they started the company Lighting by Ström and had their firstborn son.
- It was really a lot at once, but we have had a great start in Umeå and enjoy the calming pace here, compared to London. 16 years in London felt enough and during the pandemic we also felt that we wanted a fresh start, says Anna Clara.
They worked at the same company in London as lighting designers and have over the years got solid knowledge after projects in the UK but also abroad. Even though the continent has gone further in the knowledge of lighting and how to use it best, it lags behind when it comes to sustainable construction and the way we in Sweden think about the circular economy
- We feel that there are great opportunities to change the dialogue here and incorporate lighting higher up on the agenda when it is built new or renovated. Circular lighting design should be an important part for cities like Umeå and Skellefteå that have high environmental priorities but still have to grow a lot - it can be difficult to get that equation together and here we want to help, says Emilio. As a member of North Sweden Cleantech, they have begun to interact and build networks.
- We are looking for partners and housing developers and discovered North Sweden Cleantech where there are light manufacturers and a community to collaborate on sustainability issues, says Emilio.

A lighting designer sits between the lighting manufacturer and the architect in a construction or renovation project.
- Traditionally, the client has given the task of planning for the necessary lux needed on a floor surface or workplace and the architect has drawn in where cables are to be laid. When we enter a project, we ask other questions based on the purpose of the room - how should the lighting be controlled, which surfaces should be lit, what material is used in the room, is it hot or cold material, says Anna Clara.
- Then we see how much lighting is needed and what type of light, before agreeing with the customer and architect what the luminaire should look like. Just like with acoustics, it is possible to change the feeling of a room with lighting. You can influence how you feel after an eight-hour working day with the right lighting, she says.
A common misconception is to use as much brightness as possible in a room. In fact, many lighting projects Emilio and Anna Clara have worked on have shown that we use too much lighting.
- If the lighting is just right, we can use less lighting. Often the focus is more on how much watts are needed - when we plan for lighting, we also use darkness and contrasts to create the right atmosphere in a room. If it is an energy-efficient luminaire, you can do with less. The one who is most sustainable thinks long-term and buys the lighting that is needed and where it is most useful, Emilio explains.

Lighting by Ström is also a member of the Green Light Alliance - a global lighting network where everyone who works with lighting can connect.
- We want to spread knowledge so that it becomes easier for our customers to make decisions. The more people who talk about what opportunities there are, the greater the impact we can make on larger companies and ultimately more for sustainable lighting, says Anna Clara.
Here is inspiration to draw from current case studies, lectures, and the opportunity to measure how durable a lighting is.
Lighting by Ström has got off to a good start in Umeå and the long-term goal is to influence those in power and performers to incorporate a long-term plan for lighting.

- Swedish cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg have a "master plan" for their lighting, it should be here as well. Take, for example, the building plans that exist on the district Ön in Umeå, where plans are being made for high-rise buildings and lots of housing. There, the developer is responsible for the house and the municipality for the road. You get roads and houses - not a destination where everything sits together. The square and City Hall have a complete plan with lighting that says something about the place, what pace you want on a road, safety on the street and the feeling when you arrive, says Anna Clara.
- We want to start this type of discussions in Umeå. We have experience from "master plans" from both Egypt and Dubai and want to show how it can become part of the municipality's population plan, says Emilio.

Photo: Anna Clara Sandgren and Emilio Hernandez, Lighting by Ström