Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Respect (DEIR)

New York, NY: The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) is proud to announce the formation of a new entity dedicated to furthering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) in the lighting industry. The Lighting Advocacy Congress shall serve as a “United Nations” model for lighting organizations with DEIR missions to coordinate activities and share experiences, advice, and resources. It will encourage and foster interaction, cooperation, and collaboration between these organizations to instigate positive change in lighting and related industries. The IES is proud to be the host and virtual headquarters for this pioneering effort.

The Congress will be funded through benefactors who consist of lighting firms and manufacturers with a proven record of DEIR principles and practice. These benefactors shall be encouraged to likewise share resources and knowledge to further DEIR in the manufacturing realm.

In the beginning, there was light. It had no color and knew no color. It simply shined. What it shined upon meant nothing to light. It is all colors and any one color at the same time. We believe in a Lighting Society that recognizes this fact. That has dedicated itself to the study of this medium making great strides in knowledge and applicable practice for the betterment of the Earthen environment. Yet, it also admits the humility of what is yet to be known from this complex medium. It remains perceptibly any one color and yet is composed of all colors. We appreciate it for the complex entity that it is without thought or judgement. We recognize that our primary interaction and perception lies within the reflectance of surfaces that give it the qualities that we associate with it. Light does not shine any more or less on the white sand, red clay, black and brown soil. It brings all of its majesty equally on all surfaces and we see. When there is no light, we cannot see. We become afraid, anxious, and feel helpless. Yet, when there is light, any light, any color, we can see. Our anxiety and fear is alleviated. We feel empowered again within our surroundings. We believe everyone should feel this safe and empowered.

We believe in a Society that admits these things and wants all to see, equally and with the same opportunities. We believe in what the IES can be. We believe…

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) is proud to support the North American Coalition of Lighting Industry Queers (NACLIQ). NACLIQ exists to provide a safe space for all LGBTQIA+ members and others in the lighting community.

The IES strives to positively impact our Society and the global lighting industry at-large to promote a community that is diverse, equitable, inclusive and respectful of all members. We are eager to participate in discussions that lead to the sharing of differing points of view and the evolution of new ideas. The IES community is made of up a vast number of different ethnic, sexual, religious and other backgrounds and values, and we are committed to moving forward in a genuine and formative way by radiating and promoting inclusiveness.

Since the creation of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) Committee, we have been steadily working on the means to bring awareness of the committee as well as begin the research we needed to develop plans for recommendations to the IES Board of Directors. We developed a survey for release to the membership to provide us with information that the Society had never obtained. This included candid assessments of the diverse make up of the Society, the opinions regarding personal comfort in IES events, and exposure to DEI in the workplace. We received a 10% return on the survey and are using that information for developing programs and ideas for the Board to consider.

During the IES Conference, we held a series of awareness videos where we discussed the committee’s charter and some thoughts of where we will be going from here. The committee has a representative on the search committee for the new Executive Director and have worked to put in DEI language into the parameters for the new Executive Director.

Redesigning and rebalancing current approaches to lighting

Everyone deserves good lighting, particularly indoors, where many of us spend most of our time. This may be a simple declaration, but in practice, “good lighting” is a challenge to deliver equitably. Thoughtfully designed, high-quality lighting has long been an indicator of wealth and prosperity. In contrast, systemically disadvantaged and vulnerable communities, especially the occupants of public buildings, are often forced to accept substandard lighting.

Light Justice began in 2020 by examining outdoor lighting inequities: how lighting in the public realm has been historically used, both intentionally and inadvertently, to oppress and marginalize communities of color. These instances clearly demonstrate discriminatory social and environmental injustice. Moving indoors, equitable light can be understood as well-designed daylighting and electric lighting that work in concert to provide a positive occupant experience. This light is the appropriate intensity, color and distribution for the facility, prioritizing people who spend the most time in the space. It is attractive; easily controlled to enable useful variability; supports visual acuity and circadian health; designed and specified to be affordable, efficient and sustainable; and an investment in occupant satisfaction, well-being and productivity.

In the beginning, there was light. It had no color and knew no color. It simply shined. What it shined upon meant nothing to light. It is all colors and any one color at the same time. We believe in a Lighting Society that recognizes this fact. That has dedicated itself to the study of this medium making great strides in knowledge and applicable practice for the betterment of the Earthen environment. Yet, it also admits the humility of what is yet to be known from this complex medium. It remains perceptibly any one color and yet is composed of all colors. We appreciate it for the complex entity that it is without thought or judgement. We recognize that our primary interaction and perception lies within the reflectance of surfaces that give it the qualities that we associate with it. Light does not shine any more or less on the white sand, red clay, black and brown soil. It brings all of its majesty equally on all surfaces and we see. When there is no light, we cannot see. We become afraid, anxious, and feel helpless. Yet, when there is light, any light, any color, we can see. Our anxiety and fear is alleviated. We feel empowered again within our surroundings. We believe everyone should feel this safe and empowered.

We believe in a Society that admits these things and wants all to see, equally and with the same opportunities. We believe in what the IES can be. We believe…

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) is proud to support the North American Coalition of Lighting Industry Queers (NACLIQ). NACLIQ exists to provide a safe space for all LGBTQIA+ members and others in the lighting community.

The IES strives to positively impact our Society and the global lighting industry at-large to promote a community that is diverse, equitable, inclusive and respectful of all members. We are eager to participate in discussions that lead to the sharing of differing points of view and the evolution of new ideas. The IES community is made of up a vast number of different ethnic, sexual, religious and other backgrounds and values, and we are committed to moving forward in a genuine and formative way by radiating and promoting inclusiveness.

Since the creation of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) Committee, we have been steadily working on the means to bring awareness of the committee as well as begin the research we needed to develop plans for recommendations to the IES Board of Directors. We developed a survey for release to the membership to provide us with information that the Society had never obtained. This included candid assessments of the diverse make up of the Society, the opinions regarding personal comfort in IES events, and exposure to DEI in the workplace. We received a 10% return on the survey and are using that information for developing programs and ideas for the Board to consider.

During the IES Conference, we held a series of awareness videos where we discussed the committee’s charter and some thoughts of where we will be going from here. The committee has a representative on the search committee for the new Executive Director and have worked to put in DEI language into the parameters for the new Executive Director.