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Electric Lighting Controls |
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Electric lighting controls are used in lighting design projects to achieve a high quality energy efficient lighting system. Specifying a layered, daylight-integrated lighting and control system gives the occupants control of the lighting while providing appropriate lighting levels, minimizing glare, balancing surface brightness, and enhancing the surrounding architecture.
When electric lighting controls are used properly, energy will be saved and the life of lamps and ballasts can be extended. Lighting controls will help reduce energy by:
There are other reasons to use electric lighting controls. For example, dimming controls can provide the lighting flexibility which is often required in multi-use rooms or rooms in which projectors are used. Exterior motion detectors and interior occupancy sensors can be used to turn lights on when people (including intruders) are present. Moreover, by tuning an environment for the individual occupant's or group's visibility, comfort and productivity can be improved.
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Lighting controls are cost-effective, especially when one considers long-term life-cycle costs along with initial costs. Lighting controls can add approximately $0.50-$1.00 per square foot initially. Payback periods vary widely by project and are difficult, at best, to predict accurately. That does not take into account the savings from reduced energy use and HVAC reduction.
The easiest way to do an economic analysis of lighting controls is to use an "effective energy charge (EEC)," which is a cost per kWh number derived by dividing the entire electricity bill (in dollars) by the total amount of energy used during that billing period (in kWh). The potential savings per controlled fixture is calculated as follows: $ Savings per year = ([Wb x HPYb x PFb] — [Wf x HPYf x PFf]) * (EEC) * (1 kWatt/ 1000 Watts)
Where:
This method of calculating annual dollar savings is an approximate estimate because is does not allow you to calculate the exact changes in demand charges—demand charges have been wrapped up into the "effective energy charge."
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Links/Uploads |
Electric Lighting Controls – Whole Building Design Guide http://www.wbdg.org/resources/electriclighting.php Smart Controls – Whole Building Design Guide http://www.wbdg.org/resources/smartcontrols.php# |
Attributions |
Images and content courtesy of Whole Building Design Guide – National Institute of Building Sciences |