Material Transparency in Lighting: What YOU Can Do Today

Recorded On: 08/13/2021

About this Seminar Session

Each year, the IES hosts an Annual Conference. In 2021, the Annual Conference is offered virtually.

Description: Material transparency and embodied carbon has been a hot topic in lighting within the last 6-12 months. It is an emerging perspective we have yet to fully examine or embrace as a community. With its alignment to larger environmental global initiatives such as the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, the Paris Agreement, and Architecture 2030, it is critical that we as a community join the larger conversation that is taking place in the built environment. Together, we can examine our current status-quo operations with a critical eye to determine where we have room for evolution towards an elevated lighting design practice. As we review the current surveyed state of our industry, projected data-based trends, and actionable items we can implement immediately, we move together towards a design practice that is intrinsically more inspired, sustainable, mission driven, and in alignment with the evolution of the larger built environment practices.

You can earn 1 CEU by watching this presentation.

Melissa Mattes

Senior Lighting Designer

Sladen Fesinstein Integrated Lighting

Melissa is tirelessly curious about what it means to embody space, particularly through the lens of lighting. As the leader of the firm’s sustainability efforts, her orientation towards regenerative living and design began by redefining her professional habits to better align with her personal sustainable values. This led to closer examination of her workplace practice. Melissa has led a roundtable for the Illuminating Engineering Society, providing an industry snapshot of sustainable lighting practices, and has presented at multiple national conferences on the principals of living and lighting. She earned her Living Future Accreditation, is an Ambassador for ILFI, and has taught interior design lighting courses at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 2020, Melissa was named one of Lighting Magazine’s international class of “Top 40 Under 40” lighting designers, and in 2021, began leading the IES Sustainable Lighting Committee as Co-Chair.

Reiko Kagawa

Principal

Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting Inc.

Reiko joined SFIL in the early stages of the company’s establishment and became a Principal in 2017. With an academic background in both architecture and interior design, she cherishes the beauty of architectural form and enjoys bringing life into each space through the use of light. Knowing how powerful lighting can be, Reiko thrives on pushing its boundaries in a project’s vision, sustainable footprint, and occupant’s well-being. Her focus in on the holistic sustainable lighting design between different recommended practices and standards. Reiko is an advocate and educator on LEED and WELL, has presented at multiple conferences and has authored published papers. She has received many national lighting awards and in 2018, was named one of Lighting Magazine’s international class of “Top 40 Under 40” lighting designers.