LIGHTING & CONTROLS
A smart lighting system paired with LED technology is the gold standard in modern lighting installations
LIGHT MONITORING DASHBOARDS: THE KEY TO A BRIGHT FUTURE?
One, often overlooked, aspect of energy management is
lighting use and maintenance. Accounting for up to 40% of a commercial building’s
overall electricity consumption, improved efficiencies have the
potential to deliver considerable energy savings. In this article, Chris Anderson, technical
manager at Ansell Lighting, explores the latest in lighting technology - light monitoring dashboards – and how they can be used to support
organisations to achieve their energy efficiency and sustainability goals
I
n a world striving toward Net Zero emissions, modernising lighting infrastructure and
optimising energy use can deliver significant benefits. With lighting accounting for up to 40% of a building’s total electricity consumption, transitioning to efficient solutions presents a major opportunity for cost and energy savings. A smart lighting system paired with LED technology is the gold standard in modern lighting installations. When thoughtfully designed, such systems can reduce lighting energy consumption by up to two-thirds, delivering impressive results in both efficiency and sustainability. Yet despite the adoption of these readily available technologies, some organisations are still failing to achieve optimum levels, with inefficiencies persisting. Lights may be turned on in unoccupied
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Light monitoring dashboards enable lighting environments to be monitored, managed, and optimised like never before
spaces, maintenance schedules conducted on a reactive rather than proactive basis, and control systems well underutilised. This is where a brand-new technology –
light monitoring dashboards – come into play. Implemented alongside smart lighting systems and LEDs, this technology can provide organisations with the extensive insights needed to manage lighting use intelligently and effectively, cutting direct and indirect energy use.
LIGHT MONITORING DASHBOARDS Enabling lighting environments to be monitored, managed and optimised like never before, light monitoring dashboards collect real-time information from smart fittings across an entire lighting installation network. Capturing data points such as energy consumption per fixture, occupancy patterns, brightness levels, temperature/environmental conditions around fixtures and maintenance alerts, they provide comprehensive insights into a building’s lighting infrastructure at a glance. This level of visibility can have huge benefits, transforming the way lighting systems can be managed and enabling data-driven decisions to be made to optimise energy use and reduce waste. The first is that operators can quickly
identify inefficiencies or waste, such as lights ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2024 23
operating unnecessarily or outside of programmed parameters. Adjustments can then be made remotely at the click of a button or automated to ensure energy is only used when and where it is needed. By analysing occupancy patterns, dashboards can also be used to optimise lighting schedules, minimising unnecessary energy use. For instance, lighting in less frequently used areas, such as storage rooms or stairwells, can be automated to turn off when the spaces are unoccupied, ensuring efficiency without compromising functionality. Dashboards can also streamline maintenance
by predicting potential issues before they arise, reducing the need for manual inspections and reactive repairs. For instance, sensors can detect when a luminaire is nearing the end of its lifecycle or operating inefficiently due to overheating. This predictive maintenance, in turn, can support
wider carbon reduction efforts, minimising the need for maintenance teams to drive around sites and manually check emergency and non- emergency luminaires. By leveraging luminaire-specific data, light
monitoring dashboards can also provide tailored insights that improve programming, performance, and even product longevity. For example, temperature readings might reveal a light fitting is installed too close to a heat source, helping operators address potential issues before they impact the fixture’s lifespan. Similarly, diagnostic insights from driver data banks can guide more effective control plans, ensuring lighting is optimally programmed for its environment. Light monitoring dashboards also provide a
convenient central hub from which all lighting data and reports can be accessed and stored. This greatly simplifies reporting procedures and means that the status of every lighting device can be viewed in one place. Providing instant compilation and access to information required for statutory reports, dashboards streamline compliance audits and ensure accurate documentation is readily available.
A POWERFUL TOOL TO CUT ENERGY USE In the race toward sustainability, every kilowatt of energy counts. Light monitoring dashboards provide businesses with a powerful tool to reduce energy use, cut operational costs, and achieve ambitious sustainability goals. By embracing this transformative technology, organisations have the power to make more informed decisions that align with their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives and help them hit their targets.
Ansell Lighting
https://ansell-lighting.com/en
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