valaistaminen

Valaistaminen is the act or process of providing illumination to spaces, objects or areas, through artificial light sources or accompanying daylight. It encompasses planning, installation and management of lighting to ensure visibility, safety, and atmosphere. In architecture and urban planning, valaistaminen affects usability, energy use, and aesthetics. It can be categorized into ambient/general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. In stage and display contexts, lighting serves as a design element to shape perception and focus.

Light sources include incandescent, fluorescent, high-intensity discharge (HID), and modern LEDs. In recent decades LED technology dominates due to efficiency, long life, and controllability. Lighting design considers energy efficiency, lifecycle cost, glare control, and human factors. Key technical concepts include illuminance (lux) on surfaces, color temperature (measured in kelvin), and color rendering index (CRI). For work environments, guidelines specify adequate illuminance levels and uniformity; for example, workplace lighting standards such as EN 12464-1 and related regulations influence planning and assessment. Daylight integration and smart controls (dimming, occupancy sensors, daylight-responsive systems) are common approaches to balance illumination with energy use.

Environmental and regulatory aspects: energy labeling and Ecodesign requirements have pushed manufacturers toward efficient sources (LED). In educational, marketing or journalistic usage, valaistaminen may also mean enlightenment or clarification of a topic, i.e., making information clear. The term can thus describe both the physical act of lighting up spaces and the broader notion of illuminating ideas.