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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 6399

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Chiara Burattini

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Department of Astronautical Electric and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: lighting; indoor environmental quality; energy efficiency; sustainability; non-visual effects of light; photobiology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The principles of sustainability impose a new vision on lighting design, no more limited to the architecture and engineering fields, that requires a transdisciplinary approach. Research findings and technological development opened new perspectives that drive lighting design to sustainability. On one hand, the sustainability concept includes energy issues, which are mainly related to efficient lighting systems; on the other hand, it refers to human needs, which include visual comfort, psychological and physiological wellbeing, and health.

This Special Issue is aimed at collecting research findings on innovative approaches to lighting design, whose objects of study are the impact of lighting on human being and/or new lighting technologies.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: lighting theory, indoor and outdoor lighting, electrical lighting and daylighting, lighting systems and sources, lighting technology, smart lighting, energy saving, LCA, and lighting metrics and indices.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Chiara Burattini
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

lighting design
human-centric lighting
lighting quality
energy efficiency
lighting sources
lighting management
lamp innovation
sustainable design for lighting systems
energy conservation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 3258 KB

Open AccessArticle

Façade Morphologies and Daylighting Strategies for Visual Comfort in Mediterranean Office Buildings: A Contextual Framework for Northern Cyprus

by Fatemeh Monzavi, Huriye Gurdalli and Pooya Lotfabadi

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020722 - 10 Jan 2026

Viewed by 464

Abstract

The increasing adoption of highly glazed façades in contemporary office building has improved daylight penetration but has also intensified glare risk and sunlight overexposure in Mediterranean climates, with direct implications for occupant visual comfort and environmental sustainability. While daylight optimization has been widely discussed, fewer studies have examined how façade morphology systematically shapes the balance between daylight sufficiency and visual comfort in Mediterranean island contexts. This study investigates the relationship between façade configuration, daylight availability, and glare performance in office buildings in Northern Cyprus using climate-based daylight simulation. Six façade morphologies are evaluated across a range of window-to-wall ratios (WWR) using EN 17037-aligned criteria and metrics, including spatial daylight autonomy (sDA), annual sunlight exposure (ASE), and daylight glare probability (DGP). Usable daylight is not simply a function of more glass. As WWR increases, fully glazed façades in Mediterranean conditions tend to admit excessive direct sun and intensify glare, so daylight becomes less workable even when illuminance is high. Instead, hybrid and adaptive morphologies that control lighting through a combined approach of shade, diffusion, and redirection provide the most dependable performance, reducing both overexposure and glare while ensuring sufficient daylight sufficiency. The findings also indicate a distinct turning point at about 50–55% WWR, beyond which performance is mostly dependent on the façade’s ability to modulate its morphology and further glass offers minimal advantage. Based on this, the article suggests a contextual framework to encourage façade options for Mediterranean office environments that are more sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and climate-responsive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Lighting: Design for Human Wellbeing and Technological Development)

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28 pages, 7553 KB

Open AccessArticle

Office Spaces in a Cool Temperate Climate: Impact of Architectural Solutions on Daylight Quality in Interiors, in the Context of User Well-Being and Circadian Rhythm

by Magdalena Grzegorzewska-Gryglewicz and Andrzej Kaczmarek

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11062; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411062 - 10 Dec 2025

Viewed by 688

Abstract

Interior space quality in certified office buildings is key in supporting the health and well-being of occupants. Daylight, which regulates the human circadian rhythm and affects physiological processes and productivity, is crucial. This study’s objective was to determine how a building’s architecture and selected elements of its interior such as partitions and finishing material parameters affect sunlight distribution in workspaces and its biological effectiveness, as measured using Equivalent Melanopic Lux (EML). The environment’s impact on the non-visual potential of a space was also assessed (in relation to the M/P ratio). To achieve these objectives, we used a 3D model of an office building floor to simulate natural lighting in various configurations, for a cool temperate climate using Solemma’s ALFA 2025 software. This research was conducted using simulations only, with no in situ measurements. The study assessed melanopic light intensity for specific zones and workstation groups. The impact of ceiling colors and the five colors given to partitions of different heights located between desks was also determined. The study evaluated the relationship between photopic and melanopic intensity and found that, as the height of the partitions increased, especially with cloudy skies, the importance of these planes’ colors increased. Blues had a positive effect on the space’s non-visual potential, while oranges showed significant decreases in EML relative to lux, by up to 25%. This research underscores the importance of light’s non-visual impact and the consideration of these aspects at every design stage, especially interior design, to provide a comfortable work environment and its long-term benefits. We also proposed natural light exposition optimization strategies that can support proper circadian rhythm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Lighting: Design for Human Wellbeing and Technological Development)

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16 pages, 8564 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on Pendant and Blackboard Asymmetric Lens LED Luminaires for Optimal Illumination in Classrooms

by Duong Thi Giang, Pham Hong Duong, Nguyen Van Quan, Tran Ngoc Thanh Trang and Tran Quoc Khanh

Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 10015; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162210015 - 16 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2231

Abstract

This study examines the transformative impact of integrating pendant asymmetric lens (PAL) and blackboard asymmetric lens (BAL) LED luminaires to enhance classroom lighting, with the goals of replicating the ambient effects of natural daylight and promoting energy efficiency. This research focuses on improving the quality of learning environments through uniform, soft, and diffused lighting, which mimics sky-like illumination while adhering to sustainable energy practices. Advanced asymmetric lens LED luminaires are employed to achieve optimal lighting distribution, as indicated by luminous intensity distribution curves. Comparative analyses in diverse educational settings reveal significant improvements in ceiling illuminance, ranging from 935 to 1000 lx, and workspace illuminance from 660 to 720 lx, with reduced glare (UGR < 10). This results in bright, visually comfortable spaces conducive to learning. Additionally, the PAL and BAL solutions outperform conventional lighting systems like stretched ceilings and lightboxes by maintaining clear overhead spaces, eliminating shadows, and offering cost-effective solutions. This successful integration demonstrates a notable advancement in the development of energy-efficient, visually comfortable educational environments, contributing to the goals of sustainability and improved well-being for both students and teachers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Lighting: Design for Human Wellbeing and Technological Development)

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12 pages, 1839 KB

Open AccessArticle

Unconventional Luminaire Layout Design by Genetic Algorithms

by Zuzana Panska, Marek Balsky, Rudolf Bayer and Michal Brejcha

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7689; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177689 - 4 Sep 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1832

Abstract

The dominant part of energy performance of a building consists of the consumption of heating and lighting. Both the heating and lighting systems of buildings work at their designed efficiency for most of the buildings’ lifetimes. Interference with existing systems is costly considering replacements and construction adjustments. Therefore, considerable effort must be put into the design of these systems during the building design phase. The article is focused on luminaire layout design strategy, which affects the number of luminaires in a building and therefore their power consumption and the sustainability of the building. A genetic algorithm with radiosity implemented has been used to find suitable placements of luminaires of a single type in a model room to decrease the number of luminaires as much as possible. The use of a genetic algorithm can reduce the number of luminaires by using an irregular grid of luminaire placement, and therefore decrease the power demand and increase the sustainability of the lighting system. Three outcomes of an optimal luminaire layout design are presented in this paper, including the design strategy conclusions. The results of the calculation outcomes were verified by software DIALux that is commonly used for designing lighting systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Lighting: Design for Human Wellbeing and Technological Development)

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