Green Dental Office Design - Improving the Lighting

One of the biggest areas of concern in dental office design is making sure that there is proper lighting, especially in the operatories. Traditionally, fluorescent ceiling lighting has been used to provide general purpose lighting. One of the challenges, however, is to do so with color correcting lamps (bulbs) so that the lighting does not affect the color of the patient's teeth and the best possible color matches can be obtained.

indianapolis

If the dental office was not built with a dental office designer involved that watched for this, often times low-cost general purpose fluorescent fixtures and standard lamps were installed and the dentist and hygienist have had to deal with the poor illumination and quality that they produce.

INDIANAPOLIS

Today, as we move toward higher efficiency and green dental office design, there are better options. Moving to T5 lamp fluorescent fixtures can improve the energy by as much as 28%. For example, a 35W T5 lamp puts out 3650 lumens with an efficacy of 104 lumens per watt. This compares to a 40W T12 lamp at only 3,050 lumens and an efficacy of 81 lumens per watt, or a 32W T8 at only 2,700 lumens and an efficacy of 89 lumens per watt. (source: 1)

If your dental office design makes use of can lighting rather than tube, replacing the lamps with compact fluorescents (CFL) or LED's is a great way to reduce your energy usage and "green" your office. LED's generally score 92 on the Color Rendering Index as compared to 80 to 85 for other light sources, giving a "truer" white light. The sun is measured at 100 CRI. As far as efficacy goes LED's can generate as many lumens at 15W as a fluorescent produces at 35W. That's over a 50% reduction in energy usage. (source: 2)

Another green design advantage LED's have over incandescent and fluorescent lighting is that they contain no hazardous chemicals. Most fluorescent and CFL's contain mercury, lead, sodium, or other hazardous materials that can end up in land-fills and leach into the water supply.

Lastly, in addition to reduced energy usage LED's last a long time. Since they don't really burn out, their life is measured in lumen depreciation, and most LED's can last 50,000 hours or more before their lumen output depreciates to 70% of its original output. This is the point at which the Illuminating Engineering Society says they should be replaced.

So, if you are planning a dental office remodel or a design for your new dental office, be sure to ask your dental office designer to make use of higher efficiency, greener lighting in the design. If your not currently doing a remodel but are looking for ways to green your office and reduce your energy usage, converting your lamps or fixture to T5 fluorescents or LED's is a great place to start!

Source 1: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp
Source 2: http://luminosityled.com/index.html

Green Dental Office Design - Improving the Lighting

As a LEED Green Associate, James brings a solid understanding of how to apply design principles that will reduce his clients' energy costs and carbon footprint without incurring increased construction and remodeling costs.

James is a regular lecturer on dental office and green design with frequent appearances at the IU School of Dentistry and as part of the Indiana Dental Education and Resource Association Speaker's Bureau. He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the interior design department at The Art Institute of Indianapolis. With offices in Dallas, Indianapolis, New York, and Wisconsin, James is on the road regularly meeting with clients and speaking with dentists about their design needs.

James writes regularly on dental office design, green design, and interior branding, and his work has been featured in Building Excellence in Design and Construction, Indianapolis Woman, Metropolis, Metropolitan Home, Home Decor Buyer, Elle Decor, Indianapolis Monthly, Indianapolis Home, Shelter, and The Columbian. For more information visit: http://www.kusterdental.com

INDIANAPOLIS

The Dental Spa - The Next Evolution in Dental Office Design

The concept of a dental office as a spa is not new, but up until this point, has really been focused on creating a comforting and nurturing environment whereby patients feel positive things about their time at the dentist, want to return, and want to tell their friends about their experience; the essence of a strong interior branding message. But, what about actually partnering with another personal service provider, such as a massage therapist, nail tech, or hair stylist? When one thinks about it, "Having someone's fingers in my mouth is more personal than having them rub my toes," according to my friend Robert.

indianapolis 500 evolution

This approach opens a whole new range of possibilities for co-marketing, design, and branding.

INDIANAPOLIS

The idea of co-marketing services is not a new one. Hair stylists have done it for years with nail techs and even with each other under the concept of booth rental. In recent years many chiropractors have begun partnering with massage therapists to enhance the range of services that they offer to their patients. So, why shouldn't a dentist partner with other personal service providers to build and co-market a spa; especially, if your market niche is cosmetic dentistry? As I sit here writing this I can just imagine a warm and comforting spa where I regularly go to have a massage, get a manicure or pedicure, and have my teeth whitened or teeth cleaned. If I'm a regular visitor to the spa for massages on a monthly basis, having my teeth cleaned every six months becomes just a part of the standard routine when I'm in for my massage or facial one month.

Of course, the regulations that govern dental care and those that govern hair salons and day spas differ, but these only pose new opportunities to create innovative spaces that set the co-marketed spa apart from those that only perform dentistry or only perform day spa services. The enhanced menu of services creates multiple revenue streams for off-setting the overhead costs of building and infrastructure, and the enriched client base provides even more sources for referrals for new clients for each aspect of the business.

Perhaps an even more logical pairing would be to create a med spa.

A cosmetic dentist partnering with a cosmetic surgeon in a med spa would be able to offer patients an even greater array of personal services for enhancing their appearance. Just think, a patient can come in and have permanent make-up added to her eyes and have her smile brightened at the same time.

The marketing and branding of the spa, regardless of whether it is day spa or med spa, would build upon the comforts and enhanced physical well-being of the patient. Thus, the traditional tensions and anxieties of a dental visit would melt away. Dental offices are changing in the 21st century and the dental spa is an exciting trend that is emerging.

The Dental Spa - The Next Evolution in Dental Office Design

James is a regular lecturer and writer on dental office design, green design, and interior branding and also serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the interior design department at The Art Institute of Indianapolis. With offices in Dallas, Indianapolis, New York, and Wisconsin, James is on the road regularly meeting with clients and speaking with dentists about their design needs. His work has been featured in Building Excellence in Design and Construction, Indianapolis Woman, Metropolis, Metropolitan Home, Home Décor Buyer, Elle Décor, Indianapolis Monthly, Indianapolis Home, Shelter, and The Columbian.

For more information go to: http://www.KusterDental.com

INDIANAPOLIS