FEATURE LIGHTING & CONTROLS


Future- thinking wireless systems


W


hen installing a lighting control system in a building, facility


managers have many goals, including energy savings, optimising building operations, simple operation, and access to data.But the bottom line is the same: creating value. With wireless lighting solutions, the


value comes at every level. At the most basic, wireless solutions are a more cost- efficient way of adding control to buildings than a typical wired solution, particularly when dealing with retrofits. Wired lighting requires knocking holes in walls and fishing cables throughout a structure; wireless systems install much more easily. Wireless solutions often include the


same controls found in wired construction, such as dimmer switches, load controllers, occupancy and vacancy sensors, and easily programmable software. But because of the simple installation, they scale more easily, allowing you to start with a single space and adding others as you need them, connecting each area wirelessly. Eventually, you may expand to an entire floor or even an entire building over time as your budget allows. The scalability of wireless was


important to the Benbow Group, a bespoke crafter of shopfitting in Newton Abbot, Devon, UK. “We needed a solution that met our needs today, and could easily scale in the future as we added additional spaces,” said John Bailey, the company’s director. “A wireless system fulfilled our goals.”


OVERCOME RETROFIT CHALLENGES Pat Henry, an electrician at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was equally impressed with wireless systems’ benefits. The college, which was established in the 18th century, wanted a solution that was easy to install with minimal disruption to space occupants, while also easy to


14 JUNE 2020 | ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING


program and energy efficient. The system they chose had to have timeclock functionality, the ability to load shed, and provide real-time energy savings, all within the college’s budget. The first challenge concerned the


buildings themselves. “On a campus where some of the


buildings date back to 1792, it’s just not always feasible to fish wires through the walls,” said Henry. A wireless solution made the most sense. Installation proved to be simple and


fast. The college started the installation in its College Square administrative offices. Henry was able to install and program the controls while the building was occupied and without outside help. “We were able to complete the


installation and setup in a mere total of four days, working from just 6-8 a.m.” he said.The retrofit makes use of a variety of controls. Occupancy sensors ensure that lights aren’t left on when the space is vacant, daylight sensors automatically reduce lighting levels in perimeter offices, and Pico remotes provide personal control to space occupants. The system has paid dividends. With


the existing fluorescent fixtures, the administrative offices were using 130 kWh during the measured time period. After the lighting and controls retrofit the space used 60.86 kWh in a comparable time period – a total electricity savings of 55 per cent.


By Miguel Aguado, marketing and technology manager at Lutron Electronics


CREATE THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT Though making energy savings is important, employee satisfaction has also become a priority for many offices. Research from the Heschong Mahone Group and Future Workplace, among others, indicate that occupants value features such as personal control and access to daylight and views. Lighting control can contribute to those amenities, which not only support comfort and productivity, but may contribute to employee attraction and retention. Van Meter Inc., an electrical distributor


in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is an employee- owned company, that put employee comfort at the top of their list when they decided to renovate and expand their Central Distribution Center and Cedar Rapids offices. “A pleasant, productive workspace was one of our top priorities,” said Shaun Myers, Lighting Specialist at Van Meter. Van Meter, which also used a wireless


solution, wanted automated control of both electric light and daylight with simple-to-use, intuitive options for manual control, allowing the employee- owners to make easy adjustments that suit their personal needs. The flexible, scalable, wireless solution


with app-based set up and control is essential to ensuring Van Meter can tailor lighting to a changing floor plan and space layout – change is inevitable in a company confident in its future growth and expanding space needs. “It really is [brilliant],” said Myers.And it


will only get better. With the capabilities of wireless technology, intelligent lighting control systems are saving energy, increasing comfort, and offering flexibility for a wide variety of buildings. They’ll be a growing part of simplifying installation and saving money in the industry in days and years to come.


/ ELECTRICALENGINEERING Lutron Electronics


lutron.com


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