An increasingly important task faced by those with jobs in lighting is to change a building’s appearance and enhance its visual impact. A common application of lighting for effect, as it is known, is the floodlighting of buildings and city centres for those enjoying the night life.

As public and private organisations become more conscious of the importance of saving energy, those with jobs in lighting can help not only create impressive lighting for effect, but also promote energy efficiency. For example, high brightness LEDs can be used to produce visually effective presentation while achieving brilliant optical control, making the jobs in lighting much easier.

Two large-scale jobs in lighting were completed with particularly remarkable results. In 2006, for the benefit of tourists, permission was given to light up the front of the Buckingham Palace at night on a permanent basis. Thanks to the use of warm white LED luminaires, this landmark residence is now passionately presented, using less than the power consumed by a domestic kettle. In 2007, officials at the National Theatre identified various areas where energy savings could be made without compromising the ambiance or appearance of this iconic building. Using the latest colour-changing LED luminaires, up to 80 percent of energy was saved.

Apart from the exterior, many building interiors, such as entrance spaces, also benefit from LED lighting. Those with jobs in lighting are encouraged to be innovative in using the most efficient light source to create dynamic effects.