LIGHTING & CONTROLS
Smart choices in lighting commercial buildings
Lighting accounts for almost 40% of all energy used in commercial buildings in the UK and, considering that some of this use will be wasted, this is an area where real savings can be achieved. Ansell Lighting explores how this can be done
W
e’re in the midst of experiencing the largest rise in energy costs in living memory.
Compounded further by inflation and the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe, prices across the board are soaring and are set to have a big impact on businesses and other organisations. As building users look to save money and make cut backs, not to mention address ways to reduce carbon emissions, it’s likely that energy use is set to come under close scrutiny in the coming months; with investments into more efficient methods and technology sought. In the past there has often been
reluctance towards investing in energy efficient technology unless as part of a refurbishment or retrofit project, with many regarding it as a costly, disruptive and sometimes unnecessary move. Recent changes such as the focus on achieving Net Zero and the rise in energy costs is causing a shift in this opinion, prompting building users to explore many different ways in which energy use can be reduced. Smart lighting in particular is one
area that should be explored and ultimately implemented. Providing an almost instant solution to improving energy efficiency, it is an advanced technology that provides quantifiable cost benefits and real energy savings. It allows every single detail of lighting to be programmed and automated so that it is used only where and when it is needed. It gives building users complete control over lighting use, output levels and colour temperatures – all of which impact energy use and also eliminates any reliance on human
intervention – reducing the risk of users accidentally leaving the lights on and wasting energy. Smart lighting technology is available for both internal and external lighting circuits, meaning that not only offices, warehouses or other internal spaces can benefit from the improvements but so too can entrances, car parks and external walkways.
Smart lighting systems can be
programmed to operate areas of all sizes. From just a single individual work station to entire warehouses, luminaires can be linked together and fine-tuned to such a level that you can create different lighting scenes, pre-programmed to operate at specific times of day as required. Some smart systems such as OCTO can even be integrated with weather apps so that the colour of the lights will automatically adjust according to the weather outside. Easy to use, they are controlled via an app or can be programmed to respond to voice or
motion or even integrated with eco systems such as Alexa, Hey Google and Siri.
Alongside this functionality, one of the major benefits of smart lighting for business users is its ease of installation – especially in retrofit circumstances. Usually, you’d expect a change this revolutionary to necessitate expensive upgrades or building work but most smart lighting systems simply are fitted like a normal lamp or switch and are controlled and hosted on the cloud so there is no hub or wiring requirement – making it very easy to install into existing buildings. In all workplaces and public spaces, legislation dictates illuminance requirements for lighting to meet health and safety regulations. If this is not designed into the lighting installation, and is instead left to staff members discretion, it can result in high energy usage and costs. Daylight harvesting systems are a great example of a smart application that can be implemented to overcome this challenge further.
Offsetting natural daylight against electric lighting to achieve targeted levels of illumination, they reduce the need for electric lighting during periods of high-level daylight, providing adequate and uniform illuminance across the space. For example, in a room with significant levels of natural daylight, the need for electric lighting will be reduced for areas closer to the daylight than for areas deeper into the space where the natural daylight is either reduced or non-existent. Careful consideration of this ever-changing scenario as the natural component of the combined lighting increases and reduces can maximise the energy-saving benefits of the artificial lighting installation. Smart lighting products with intuitive presence and absence detection are another highly efficient way of reducing energy consumption and removing reliance on employee interaction. Used to control lighting use, they have seen a real rise in popularity as businesses have moved towards more flexible working patterns and reduced capacities post-pandemic. They
28 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2022
automatically turn lights off when spaces are unoccupied and on when movement is detected. Ultra-effective, The Carbon Trust estimates that the use of automatic sensors alone can cut energy usage for lighting by up to 40%. In places where light is required over longer periods – or even 24/7 – corridor functionality is also recommended. A corridor function uses motion sensors to increase output to 100% when needed in an energy-efficient and cost-effective way.
Providing an
almost instant solution, smart lighting is an advanced technology that provides quantifiable cost benefits and real energy savings. It allows every single detail of lighting to be programmed and automated...
To take energy and cost savings to a whole new level, it is also worth highlighting the importance of using low-energy LEDs in conjunction with the technology. Compared with other light sources, LEDs are extremely efficient and will reduce energy use. In fact The Climate Group estimate that simply switching existing lamps 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.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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