Energy Saving Through Smarter
Lighting Solutions
Energy savings through improved
lighting systems provide the most practical and cost-effective solution to
reduce the overall energy consumption and power bills. Using energy-saving
technologies such as Lighting Retrofits helps to maintain appropriate lighting
level and still creates scope for energy savings. However, it is essential to
understand that for creating a customized lighting system that can provide
these benefits, it should be able to address two issues - daylight-related
problems and upgrading of existing artificial lighting technologies.
Creating
Appropriate Daylight Distribution
Daylight is one of the most
important factors that decide the amount of artificial lighting that is needed
within a facility. It should be re-distributed evenly throughout the facility
so that most of the areas are well-lit without depending too much on artificial
lighting resources. One common example of poor daylight distribution lies
within classrooms that are found in bigger schools. Similarly, many commercial
buildings have poor architectural styles that tend to keep out natural day
light.
In such buildings, rows of
rooms are stacked in a cubical manner - one above the other, and daylight
distribution is seriously compromised. This can be improved to a large extent
by:
- Introducing
bilateral illumination in the interior spaces
- Luminaries
can be used to control the impact created by reflected light
- Level
of light reflected off the surface of walls/ceilings can be controlled by
using reflective paints.
Lighting
Retrofits
The most effective way of
increasing lighting-related energy savings is to upgrade existing lighting
technologies through lighting retrofits. They have been found to be very
effective in increasing the overall energy-saving ability of establishments.
- Lighting
retrofits can target specific problem areas as they offer many
customized/designed options.
- Newer
lighting technologies mean reduced wastage along with better performance
such as increased level of light penetration and markedly reduced
flickering.
- By
using retrofitted lighting systems, the level of eco-friendliness is
increased. This helps businesses maintain compatibility with
energy-related performance certifications by reducing their carbon
footprints.
- Daylighting Controls
This is a solution for making
daily energy savings within a facility. Automatic daylighting controls are
meant for buildings that have a significant amount of daylit space but don’t
have the means to ensure that artificial lighting systems are being used in
coherence with this advantage. Dimming the lighting systems through automatic
photosensors is the most preferred choice since it eliminates the human factor
and helps increase energy savings with the least bit of employee interference.
Photosensors are designed in
such a manner that they can dim the lamps when sufficient daylight is available
and can constantly create the right kind of lighting for the interiors.
- Occupancy Sensors
One control-based way of
inducing energy savings within the building is using occupancy sensors. They
require one-time installation and ensure that electric power is not being
wasted by negligent employees or due to infrastructural deficiencies. There are
many kinds of occupancy sensors available in the market that can be customized
to businesses needs.
These sensors will
automatically switch-off the lights once they detect that the space around them
has not been occupied for a certain period (user-defined) of time. However,
they do have a manual switching-on option; so they can be turned on at will,
but are switched-off in an automated manner to help cut down on energy billing.
- Dual-technology Sensors
These sensors are slightly more
expensive but are an excellent energy saving device. They combine infrared and
ultrasonic technologies to provide very precise lighting system turning-off
functions. Their detection capabilities are very reliable and are being
increasingly used by businesses that have large warehouses and storage
facilities.
Retrofitting
Precautions
- Ensure
that a recommended lighting retrofit plan helps to reduce the number of
ballast types and lamps that need extended maintenance/repairs
- For
open-air lighting fixtures that are installed in caustic or adverse
environments, ensure that the lighting retrofit upgrades can survive the
demanding environment
The simplest way to validate
the performance of a recommended energy savings lighting retrofit project is to
demand a short-term testing phase. This kind of simulation helps to gauge the
suitability of the proposed lighting installations and the employee comfort
level with the energy saving measures.
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