Correspondence: Rusdy Hartungi, School of Built and Natural Environment, Kirkham Building, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE, UK

¹is a prominent expert in sustainable engineering technology. Before his appointment at The University of Central Lancashire, he was working for many years in Consulting Engineer in the United Kingdom and abroad including Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands. Dr Hartungi is an active member of Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and Institution of Electrical Engineer (IEE/IET). He is one of very few UK chartered engineers who has gained international recognition as a member of the International Professional Engineers (IntPE UK) as well as European Engineer (Eur Ing).

Received 18 December 2008; Revised 18 December 2008.

Abstract

This research investigates and analyses the use of energy-efficient lighting design in an exclusive spa project in the southwest of England. The originality of this work is the area of investigation, which is in an exclusive spa. Before this study, hardly any investigation has been done in this kind of building, as many previous studies focused on energy-efficient lighting in office buildings. The main area of this investigation includes the study and analysis of the good practice of energy-efficient lighting. The method used in this case study is to some extent similar to ethnographic research because the researcher was heavily involved in the energy-efficiency lighting design as a lead building services design engineer from stage B to stage K of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) plan of work. The major findings in this case study are that the energy-efficient lighting design could still be achieved without sacrificing the visual comfort and aesthetic requirement of the building, which are a critical feature of an exclusive spa. Energy-efficient lighting could be implemented if it is considered right from the early design stage.