First, what does a lighting designer do, besides the very obvious? A lighting designer is called in for the construction of a large office or other type of building to design the lighting scheme for efficiency, ambience and for flair.

Depending on the size of the building project, the lighting designer may incorporate one main design for the entire project or may break the design into smaller projects that complement and flow into one another. Using someone who is a green lighting designer is important, even vital if the completed project has hopes to being certified as a green building.

What Certification or Education Do I Need?

Studying lighting design is important and most have their professional certification in that field, as well as architecture and design. Studying interior design is also a possibility. Knowing electrical safety is a must and many lighting designers hold a degree or certification as an electrician as well. Finally, many lighting designers will join a professional guild or organization, but that is not an absolute.

What does it take To Start?

Every young, fresh faced student of any discipline, races off in hopes of finding that first, perfect job! Being a lighting designer is far more than just getting the right certifications and education, you actually have to get your foot in the door. That being said, you should make sure that you are watching for every lead, and knocking on every door. Once you get your first design under your belt, the jobs will come faster and easier. It takes hard work and dedication to get started.

How Green is This Industry?

The industry itself is stuck between wanting to keep all options open when it comes to actual design and what will be available in terms of energy efficiency. The complaint from designers is that the lighting suppliers are "racing to outgreen each other" (Bedell 2009) and that lighting is losing its ability to be artistic because of it. The lighting design and lighting supply industries must join forces to make both of these industries green. The middle ground between form and function must be found and reached.

What are the Risks?

First, the ability to find a job in this field may be limited in many areas, especially in the winter months when all construction and building slows down anyway. Another consideration to keep in mind is this: if you cannot find the right acceptable alternative for the design that you have in mind, will you then find something that is not as beautiful but satisfies the green certification criteria or will you sacrifice green for looks? Will either alternative be satisfactory for yourself or for your client?

References: James Bedell, Green Lighting and Sustainability May 1, 2009 posted at http://constructionlawva.com/green-lighting-and-sustainability

Green Entrepreneurship Resources
• *75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make A Difference
• *Finding the Sweet Spot: The Natural Entrepreneur's Guide to Responsible, Sustainable, Joyful Work
• *101 Ways to Turn Your Business Green: The Business Guide to Eco-Friendly Profits
• *Start Your Own Green Business (Start Your Own...)
• *Global Warming Is Good for Business: How Savvy Entrepreneurs, Large Corporations, and Others are Making Money While Saving the Planet
• *The Plot to Save the Planet: How Visionary Entrepreneurs and Corporate Titans Are Creating Real Solutions to Global Warming
• *Starting Green: An Ecopreneur's Guide to Starting a Green Business from Business Plans to Profits