IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Vick Nanthan (TRILUX)

The future of lighting is circular

Door: Jessica Merkens

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People don’t realise the impact of well-designed lighting and how much it can save

As head of sustainability at TRILUX UK, Vick Nanthan commits himself to a more sustainable world. He’s an advocate of circular economy, such as refurbishing existing luminaires in building projects instead of producing new ones. It’s not only cost effective but reduces waste and is critical as we are running out of resources rapidly. “We constantly have to push the boundaries to find new solutions.”

Reducing energy use

Nanthan is motivated to contribute to a more circular economy. “We basically live in a world where we take resources from the earth, we make something and when it’s used we throw it away as waste. But with circularity, it’s all about eliminating waste. By designing luminaires that can be broken down, taken apart to be repaired. Or reassembled or refurbished. So that when at the end of its lifespan you can actually repurpose it.” And that will soon be the norm, he believes.

People don’t realise the impact of well-designed lighting and how much it can save, Nanthan says. Lighting accounts for up to forty percent of a building’s energy use. “For a light fitting, the carbon footprint is highest when it is switched on due to the energy it consumes. Designing more efficient and durable lighting, that can be repaired and used in a smart way, can greatly reduce the carbon footprint.”

Fireflies

Taking care of people’s wellbeing and the planet was ingrained in him at a very early age. As a seven year old boy growing up in Kuala Lumpur. “My family had a farm, with something like 150 chickens, 40 goats, turkeys, guinea fowls and other farm animals.”

The elderly worker on the farm would collect food waste for the animals from the surrounding construction sites canteens. “He was like a granddad to me. I would always follow him everywhere when I spent my weekends there and when he was collecting food waste.” Nanthan learned not to be wasteful and considerate to others.

Even his fascination with light has its origins already there and then, he recalls. “I used to have a little lantern, but it was not just any lantern.” He would take a used jam jar, clean it, poke holes in the lid and tie it to a stick to catch fireflies. “They glow and emit a light, and after rain or when it was dark, I would just swoop my hands and would literally have several fireflies and put them in the jar. Believe me, it did really make quite a bright light and is a natural form of light called bioluminescence, which is light produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism.” Now, more than forty years later, he’s working for an international lighting company, TRILUX as Head of Sustainability. “I guess it’s always been in me.”

Photo: Project Skanska

Refurbished luminaires

One of the projects that stands out for him is Skanska, a leading construction company that was moving to a new head office in London. They contacted Nanthan as he was also involved in the original building, with the previous owners.

“I received a phone call and they basically said, well, we want to move some things around and need to buy lights from you.” But instead of stripping the existing luminaires, Nanthan convinced them to refurbish them. “To reduce a lot of waste, but also costs.”

Marks and scuffs

Skanska being a construction company with their own electrical division, they could collect all the luminaires on site. Not having a third party to work with made the process easier. “They had to label and photograph everything.” To reduce waste they decided to not use packaging. “Since it was going in our own trucks, in one delivery, we just used bubble wrap. It came to our local factory and we labelled everything as well, so we had traceability of what we took back.”

Then they had to agree on what they wanted to reuse. “Skanska had runs and runs of linear luminaires, suspended at heights of over three meters. These luminaires have an aluminium body. We asked them, would you accept it if the luminaires had small marks or scuffs on it from prior use? They accepted it.” TRILUX was also able to adapt the colour temperature of the luminaires using a special filter, to meet the new requirements. “In the end we took back as much as we could, recorded and refurbished everything, and had it delivered. On site we advised them on the installation. It all ran very smoothly.” The real achievement here is working in partnership with Skanska, Nanthan believes. “Having shared values and aspirations was really the key.” Together, they were able to save 17 tons of CO2 equivalent. “That was massive. Next to the reduction of raw material and waste as well.”

Take a look at Lookbook: Skanska

Mindset to reuse

Would it also be possible with luminaires from another manufacturer? “Absolutely. The luminaires being from TRILUX just made it easier. It meant that we knew exactly what we were dealing with. But we have also completed projects where we have taken back luminaires that are much older, like 15 years, from different manufacturers. It is not always easy because sometimes the luminaires are too old.

Architects and designers are key in this process, Nanthan says. “Today architects and designers are trying not to knock down an entire building when they're trying to build new. They retain the shell and core structure and other aspects of the building where possible to reduce waste and carbon.” That mindset is essential. “If architects are using the same kind of ceiling system and we’re able to take for instance a box like luminaire, it is more straightforward. Then we can use the housing, harvest the components and replace it with the latest LED lights. But when the designers are completely changing the ceiling, then it becomes more difficult.”

Raw material depletion

A manufacturing company such as TRILUX can make more money from selling new luminaires instead of refurbishing them. How did Nanthan convince them to take the circular road? “I can’t tell you how many times I was challenged on this, because the reality is, for instance with Skanska, we could have sold a good few hundred thousand pounds worth of new lighting. But we didn’t. You see, you have to look at the bigger picture. We live on a finite planet and we are running out of resources. Take copper, it’s used in almost all electrical cables and electrical components. Some reports suggest we can run out of virgin copper around 2040. So how are we going to make cables?”

Harvesting from what already exists in buildings and projects and reusing is the only way, he thinks. Next to that he believes in having a long term view. “As time goes on regulations will come in, such as carbon tax and laws. You cannot be wasteful and throw something away that is good. When you’re leading the way as a company, you will also have a competitive advantage in the long run.”

Moving towards a circular model is the obvious solution, Nanthan believes. “Yes, in the short term, we lose revenue. But just talking about the Skanska project, we've been approached by several other companies wanting to do the same thing. It's exemplary and can be a template to architects, designers and building owners. Look, this is another way to do it.”

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You cannot be wasteful and throw something away that is good. When you’re leading the way as a company, you will also have a competitive advantage in the long run

A future of mega cities

Architects and engineers are key players to move things in the right direction. “They have the power to write the specifications and what they want in a building. They must demand from the suppliers a much higher standard when it comes to sustainability. We can achieve this together, by constantly pushing the boundaries to find new solutions.”

And that’s crucial, Nathan says, by 2050 the world population will be close to ten billion, and with urbanisation a large part of the population will be living in mega cities. “Over 50 million people in some of these cities. It’s so huge that we cannot carry on the in the same manner as today.”

Those working in the built environment have the power to shape these future mega cities. “By being responsible, by making the right choices in terms of design, manufacturing and innovation, and working in partnership, what we do today will make a massive difference in the future.”