Episode 4: Lights, Landfills, and Liability

In this episode of the Lighting Matters Podcast, hosts Lisa Reed and Avi Mor are joined by Paul Beale, the co-founder of 18 Degrees, a London-based lighting studio renowned for its innovative approach to architectural lighting design. Paul shares the unexpected story of how he’s turned his focus towards sustainability by rescuing flat-panel light fixtures destined for landfills. As he finds himself with a growing inventory of saved fixtures, Paul is now on a mission to find new homes for these lights, sparking a conversation about waste reduction and the environmental impact of our industry. 

With over 25 years of experience, Paul Beale is not only a leader in lighting design but also an advocate for responsible practices within the field. He has served on the board of directors of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and currently advises the European Commission on lighting-related issues. His insights are sure to inspire listeners to think differently about the life cycle of lighting products and the role of sustainability in design. 

Tune in as we explore the challenges and opportunities of integrating sustainable practices into the world of lighting design, and enjoy a few laughs along the way as Paul recounts his journey from design projects to renting new space for storing his salvaged fixtures. 
 
Paul Beale was a founder of the London-based lighting design studio18 Degrees in 2017.  He believes that great lighting changes lives for the better and has build a practice to bring excellence in lighting design to projects of all kinds all around the world. Paul has served on the board of directors of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and currently serves on the IALD Europe steering committee and advises the European Commission on lighting-related issues. He also regularly writes articles for industry publications, speaks at design conferences, and participates in panel discussions. 

In This Episode:  

• (00:00) Intro and background on Paul Beale, ‘unflinching’ co-founder of 18 Degrees 
• (05:00) The Cambridge project story - Reusing LEDs and the sustainability challenge 
• (11:45) Saving and cataloging discarded lights in a storage warehouse 
• (17:00) Efficient LED lighting system implementation 
• (19:46) ESCOs in the U.S. 
• (22:00) Sustainability consultants, efficiency and longevity of lighting controls 
• (32:10) Service and service companies 
• (35:00) We can’t settle for this is just “the way it is” in our industry… 
• (37:00) Partner selection process in construction 
• Like and subscribe to hear all of our informative upcoming episodes! 

About the show:  

Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.  

Resources: 

Paul Beale LinkedIn 

18 Degrees 

Lisa Reed LinkedIn