• • • LIGHTING & LIGHTING CONTROLS • • •
Using smart lighting to save the planet and the pocket
In the wake of COP26 and increasing utility costs Rachel Morris, marketing manager for OCTO at Ansell Lighting, looks at how smart lighting systems can help to reduce energy use
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ever before has the issue of climate change been more prominent. As the effects of global warming continue to wreak havoc on
the world and in the aftermath of the recent COP26 climate summit, the focus on reducing carbon emissions and energy use is at an all-time high. According to Project Drawdown, buildings
account for 32% of energy use worldwide, with as much as 80% of the energy consumed being wasted by lights and electronics being left on and gaps in the building’s envelope allowing air to seep in and out – therefore having a very real impact on energy use and on climate change as a whole. From taking steps such as replacing doors and
windows to ensuring that energy-using equipment is regularly checked for leaks, there are a variety of measures that should be considered when embarking on an energy use reduction programme – including upgrading lighting. Lighting accounts for almost 5% of global CO2
emissions and 40% of all energy used in commercial buildings in the UK – a proportion of which will be wasted, and therefore this is an area where real savings can be achieved. Calculations from The Climate Group estimate
that simply switching existing bulbs and luminaires to LEDs could save more than 1,400 million tons of CO2 globally. A huge saving which can be accelerated further when combined with a smart lighting system. Smart lighting is automated and designed to
ensure that it is only used where and when it is needed, eliminating reliance on human intervention and reducing the risk of users accidentally leaving the lights on and wasting energy. It not only offers complete control over when lights are in operation, but also over output levels and colour temperatures, all of which impact energy use. It can be installed in almost all indoor and outdoor settings, from commercial buildings to factories, car parks and schools. As with all technologies, there are many options
offering different levels of automation to consider. For a fully connected building, products embedded with connected technology which can be operated via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, are a must. This technology enables numerous luminaires to
be linked together and controlled, creating different scenes, groups and schedules. It can be pre-programmed to operate at specific times, activated remotely, programmed to respond to voice or motion or even integrated with eco systems such as Alexa, Hey Google and Siri. There are also many smart lighting products to
consider, which regulate energy use by controlling natural light.
The Carbon Trust estimates that automatic
sensors alone can cut energy usage for lighting by up to 40%. Given the high level of technology involved, the
Daylight harvesting systems offset natural
daylight against electric lighting to achieve targeted levels of illumination, reducing the need for electric lighting during periods of high-level daylight and energy use. Where light is required over longer periods, in
settings such as public buildings, schools or hospitals, smart products with corridor functionality are another great option to reduce energy consumption, while maintaining safe levels of lighting. They only operate at 100% output when presence is detected avoiding energy waste when the space is unused. Similarly intuitive motion sensors, and presence and absence detection lighting can be used to control lighting, turning lights off when spaces are unoccupied.
practical considerations of specifying a smart lighting system are surprisingly simple. They are simple to set up via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and are controlled and hosted on the cloud, so there is no hub or wiring required and most units are simply installed like a normal light lamp or switch. So, no risk of the on-site headaches sometimes associated with transferring cutting edge technology from page to practice. The benefits of controlled smart lighting
systems extend way beyond the sustainability that looks set to become a prerequisite of building projects. Buckingham Palace is currently trialling a shift
to LED lighting in an effort to live up to the Royal family’s vocal pro-green ethos and reduce the estimated £1.1 million energy bill that the taxpayer settles each year. The sums involved in less regal buildings might
not be quite so eye-watering, but when a smart lighting system can deliver low energy use, reduced carbon footprint and quantifiable cost benefits for clients, it is hard to argue against adopting it as a ‘first choice’ solution.
30 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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