BSEE
Considering that 65 per cent of the indoor luminaire market worldwide will be intelligent LED lighting by 2022, what’s the big advantage for businesses? Caroline Bramwell, PR consultant to the technical industry at The Olden Group PR & Marketing, reviews how LED lighting and the Internet of Things are impacting on working environments
efficiency point of view, these days smart lighting systems are offering so much more. Commercial buildings are getting smarter and more efficient with the introduction of connected lighting. This is a system of lighting fixtures that are connected to a network so that data can be relayed from the sensors in the fittings to a central control point. A connected lighting system combined with LED technology can deliver energy savings of up to 80 per cent, and pay back the initial investment in as little as 18 months depending on the type of system used. These smart LEDs are gathering data about the building’s environment from temperature and humidity measurement sensors to occupancy tracking via PIR sensors, air quality sensors and sensors to detect the light ambience compared to the external light and adjust it accordingly. With this wealth of data fed back to a central control, facilities managers are able to make real-time adjustments to improve the working environment and run the building more efficiently. Not only does this provide more control, and thus illuminate areas according to their usage and saving money in the process, but with these sensors in-built, it can make a large impact on the amount of time required for installing separate HVAC and carbon monoxide sensors. The knock- on is reduced man-hours for installation and maintenance.
W
Deciding on how best to take advantage of this will come down to the type of building, how it’s used by occupiers and whether an organisation is looking for a short-term or long-term solution; time versus cost.
uLiFi is a technology for wireless communication between devices using light to transmit data and position. LiFi claims to be 100 times faster than standard WiFi
Lighting control systems
Lighting control systems fall into two types; network control systems or Power over Ethernet systems. You can look to
hilst the initial thought is that using LED lights will save money for organisations simply from the
SMART BUILDINGS & TECHNOLOGY Intelligent lighting and the Internet of Things
use either option, or even consider a combination of the two. Understanding the needs of the different areas of the building will help you to design the right lighting system for your specific needs. It may be more efficient to keep network control lighting in the communal areas of the building, whilst installing the Power over Ethernet lighting in specific meeting rooms or private offices.
The easier and more cost-effective method is to use network control lighting which involves retrofitting a building’s existing light fixtures with sensors and wired or wireless controls to be able to collect the data. Combined with LED lighting, the network control system will often recover the initial investment in 18 to 24 months. A Power over Ethernet system can be considered a more expensive route due to the necessity for the upfront costs of the fixtures themselves. However, the system is considered more future-ready and is able to be easily upgraded, as new sensor technology can be added to the system. The system is also run on standard networking cable, so there is no requirement for a power cable to be installed. This, in turn, means that additional fixtures can be installed by the end user or IT personnel, without the need for a professional electrician. The savings made from the installation can mitigate the initial outlay, but the system can take about four years to pay back the investment. Being prepared for the fast moving changes in lighting technology, however, makes this option ideal for new builds.
Benefits of improved lighting
But what about the physical benefits of improved lighting on personnel and their productivity? Whilst the smart LED systems can create better lighting for appropriate areas, there is also the development of ‘daylighting’. Before the 1940s daylight was the primary light source in buildings and it was in
26 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2019
the relatively short time span of just 20 years that artificial lighting became more prevalent. Recognising the physiological and psychological effect of light on the mood of personnel, ‘daylighting’ has made a resurgence in lighting design. Humans are affected by the different spectrums provided by the various types of light and daylighting has been associated with enhanced morale, lower fatigue and reduced eyestrain. This leads to improved productivity.
But not all buildings are able to benefit from natural daylight due to their location and structure, for example in shopping centres, on the London Underground, and inside large facilities such as schools or hospitals. This is where the newest technology is heading with e-windows. Companies such as Mitsubishi have been developing ‘daylighting’ solutions which are not reliant on having blue light or blue Perspex. On either side of the ‘window’ are just two white LEDs, with suspended diffusers in between to replicate the way light comes through the atmosphere. The effect is truly like natural daylight coming through a window.
Studies show that office worker productivity can increase with the quality of light. Natural light increases attention and alertness during the post-lunch dip, and has shown to be helpful in increasing alertness for boring or monotonous work (Light, Sight, and Photobiology 1998). With better lighting conditions, some companies have also seen a reduction in office worker absenteeism. In all, the continuing development of smart lighting technology for working environments can surely be a good thing; increased productivity from healthy, appropriate lighting, whilst utilising the building’s control system and using lighting resources efficiently, all whilst reducing installation and maintenance time.
www.theoldengroup.com Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
uUnderstanding the needs of the different areas of the building will help you to design the right lighting system
‘
Studies show
that office worker productivity can increase with the quality of light
’
uStudies show that office worker productivity can increase with the quality of light
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
