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May 28, 2013
Dear Clients, Friends and Colleagues,
The words "behavior change" are on the tips of the tongues of just about every real estate professional talking about climate change ----- from the 5,000 or so members of the Urban Land Institute that gathered earlier this month in San Diego to the 35,000 or so who attended the International Council of Shopping Center's annual RECon in Las Vegas last week. And rightfully so.
Even where seemingly small changes in how we do things can result in big gains, progress is grudgingly slow. Take lighting for example. According to the Department of Energy, lighting consumes more than 20% of all electric power generated each year. Use of currently available technologies, such as LEDs, could reduce that consumption by up to 80% and does not require big behavioral changes on the part of the end user. But as noted in a recent New York Times article, we have not yet been able to get to the next step on the "sun to candle to bulb" continuum and give up our screw-based lighting sockets, fluorescent ceiling tubes and metal halide parking lot lights.
But is it the end user who is holding us up or the real estate professionals who design, construct and fund the built environments where these changes need to be incorporated? What will it take for them to give up lamps for lights embedded in walls and accept streetlights that talk to each other?
Technology, Innovation and Behavior Change
 | Lights along this UC Davis bike path brighten
as cyclists approach and dim after they ride by.
Photo: Kathreen Fontecha / CLTC, UC Davis |
There are breakthroughs on the lighting technology drawing boards that could revolutionize our use of lighting and dramatically reduce the energy we consume as a result.
Here are some examples:
Imagine streets that light up on an as-needed basis. Engineers at the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) at the University of California, Davis have devised a lighting system for roadways, bike paths and pedestrian walkways throughout the UC Davis campus that respond to actual use.
A radio frequency network allows the lights to sense how fast travelers are approaching, whether on foot, by bike or in a car, predict their path of travel, and light the way ahead at full output. When nobody is around ----- as is often the case at night ------ the lights dim, saving energy without compromising safety or security.
Imagine buildings that are lit without lighting fixtures, and lighting systems that automatically shift output to boost the health, wellness and productivity of building occupants. In the not-so-distant future, walls and ceilings may be constructed with materials that emit a soft, bright glow while using very little energy. In addition, engineers at CLTC are working on LED lighting systems that can shift spectral output to offer health and productivity benefits in addition to energy savings.
In order for real estate professionals to embrace this next generation of lighting technology breakthroughs, individual and organizational behavioral changes are critical. For an industry that is inherently resistant to change, this could be extremely challenging. In my opinion, solving this challenge is the key to moving beyond the bulb.
Let me know what you think!
As always, I look forward to helping you take advantage of the greatest business opportunity of our time ----- sustainability ----- for breakthrough business results.
Warmly,
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