Smart lighting is one of the most efficient ways to reduce your energy consumption. In a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/U.S. Department of Energy study, researchers found that “lighting has the largest… technical potential for energy savings of any U.S. building end-use” and that “a significant fraction of that potential is believed to lie in lighting system controls.” Here are three types of lighting control your business can implement to capitalize on this energy savings.
- Room-Based Occupancy Sensors
Occupancy sensors have become a go-to solution for reducing energy waste. When positioned properly, occupancy sensors will cut off or dim lights when spaces are unoccupied. These sensors are great for storage areas, copy rooms, break rooms, and even restrooms. Any lighted space that remains empty for two or more hours a day is a great candidate for occupancy sensors. These room-based systems can also be networked, allowing for customizable programming.
- Network-Based Control Systems
With network-based control systems, lighting can be networked and throughout an entire building or system of buildings. This allows a management team to process sensor information, and remotely set lighting for their facilities using software. Lighting networks can be customized in a variety of ways, limited only by the user’s skill level. One might use photo sensors in conjunction with dimmable LED lights to continually adjust light levels in proportion to the natural light available. Programming your network to maintain consistent lighting levels in tandem with the sun conserves energy and money. These systems can operate autonomously, or they can be linked to another building network like HVAC.
- Color Correction and Tuning
LED lights can be programmed to balance room lighting, cooler or warmer depending on the environment and time of day. A full array of colored LED lights can be installed to adjust lighting in any number of ways. Using versatile lights, spaces can be adapted effortlessly for new uses. As a bonus, LEDs bring superior energy efficiency and lifespan.
Lighting control technology has improved significantly over the last ten years, and continues to add new ways to regulate and enhance your lighting usage. Wireless capability, embedded light fixture sensors, and improvements to LED technology have made controlling your lighting network more efficient than ever, and can save you power and money.
