The Impact of Color and Material Selection on Lighting Design In Classroom

This study addresses lighting design as a key factor for energy efficiency and sustainability. A significant portion of global energy consumption is electricity, much of which is allocated to building lighting. The large number of educational buildings and their year-round use require efficient lighting strategies to reduce energy consumption. In classrooms, proper lighting design not only ensures energy savings but also enhances visual comfort, thereby supporting efficiency in education. This study aims to examine lighting design in classrooms within a holistic and sustainability-oriented framework by revealing the impact of wall surface colors and student desk material properties on energy-efficient lighting design. In this context, current illumination levels in classrooms were measured and evaluated for compliance with standard, then illuminance calculations were carried out using DiaLux.evo software to suggest wall color and desk material recommendations. The research findings indicate that, regardless of room orientation and the reflectance coefficient of the color, warm colors contribute more to work plane illuminance compared to cool colors. In addition, it has been observed that changes in wall surface colors and desk surface materials significantly affect not only the level of illuminance on the work and focal surface but also the quality of light distribution.