Smart Lighting
Shedding Light on ‘Smart Occupancy’
James Foster, OCTO national sales manager at Ansell Lighting, explains how ‘smart occupancy’ lighting can help to optimise workspaces and energy use for hybrid working.
W
orking from home became the norm during the Covid pandemic, with significant implications for
employers and employees alike. With lighting accounting for almost 40% of all energy used in commercial buildings in the UK, and energy prices showing no sign of returning to normal in the foreseeable future, paying hugely inflated bills on offices frequently operating below capacity will place another burden on those already negotiating a tight bottom line. In light of this situation, it is little surprise that the concept of ‘smart occupancy’ lighting is becoming increasingly popular. For wholesalers who want to help ensure purchasers and end users get optimum functionality and cost value from their lighting, it is worth being aware of the benefits it offers. A key aspect of an automated smart lighting system is that it ensures lighting is only used where and when it is needed. The technology allows lighting schedules to be created to fit around shift patterns, working hours or seasons. Users can pre-set the times and duration that lighting is in operation, removing the onus on individuals to remember to switch the lights off.
Its versatility makes smart lighting ideal for workplaces where lighting requirements are changeable. Rather than having to illuminate entire rooms or floors, individual fittings can be operated in isolation. If just one individual workstation is in use at a given time, lighting can be focused on that space alone, saving energy use.
Additionally, different ‘scenes’ or combinations of luminaires, as well as control colour temperature and output levels, can be programmed, so staff
illumination throughout its length when a person enters it.
Smart lighting is suitable for both internal and external circuits and can be used to illuminate any type of space, from offices, meeting rooms and warehouses to external areas such as building façades, car parks or walkways.
experience the highest levels of visual comfort while energy savings rack up.
Some of the key functions offered by a smart system such as OCTO, which help to deliver ‘smart occupancy’ are:
Daylight harvesting – this employs smart sensors which measure the amount of natural light available and supply just enough electrical light to obtain the required uniform illuminance in a space. Absence and presence detectors – these are programmed to detect when somebody enters a room, triggering the luminaires to provide light as long as the room is in use. The minute the last person leaves the room, the lights automatically switch off; an intelligent use of light which is sustainable as well as cost-efficient.
Corridor functionality – in larger buildings, lights along the length of a corridor can be programmed to be dimmed or switched off when nobody is detected in the space, but will instantly provide
Crucially, a well-designed and operated system can reduce lighting energy use by up to two thirds, which can translate into massive savings. Advances in equipment also means that many commercial smart lighting solutions now come with dashboard controls to accurately measure lighting energy use across all spaces in real time, allowing building managers to monitor and optimise their lighting installations. This helps to reduce unnecessary energy use, whilst also highlighting spaces that are unused and either no longer needed, or which do not require regular services such as cleaning or heating, reducing additional operational costs.
The beauty of ‘smart occupancy’ technology is that the majority of functions, such as daylight saving, motion sensors and colour control, apply equally to domestic or commercial or industrial settings. For those working from home, whether in a designated office or at the kitchen counter, colour control is a particular benefit. For example, cooler light hues can be selected to help people feel more alert, while warmer lighting can promote creativity and problem solving. This can help make an easier transition from efficient office space to cosy home at the end of the working day.
Smart lighting is simple to set up via Bluetooth and wi-fi, and is controlled and hosted on the cloud, so there’s no hub or wiring to install and the majority of units are simply installed like a normal light lamp or switch. It is also highly functional and can be controlled easily by app, remote control, motion or eco systems such as Hey Google, Apple Siri shortcuts on iOS 12, Samsung SmartThings or Amazon Alexa. The hybrid approach is already embedded in many workplaces and homes. A well specified smart lighting solution can help ensure that this modern approach to professional life is beneficial in terms of productivity and wellbeing as well as energy and cost efficiency.
14 | electrical wholesaler December 2022
ewnews.co.uk
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