Achieving efficiency with lighting controls

The increasing uptake of LED lighting is also driving the demand for lighting controls. As building owners, operators and facility managers become more aware of the benefits of the lighting control technology, it’s time for contractors to embrace and master the technology to grow their business.

Lighting controls are playing an increasingly important role in improving energy efficiency in refurbished and new fit-outs, not just in office spaces, but also in warehouses, car parks, stairwells and other areas in commercial spaces. Basically in areas where lights are on but the areas are often unoccupied.

With the rapid pace of technological developments, it’s difficult for contractors to keep up with the changes and advancements. Contractors may not know everything, but when assessing a project, they should consider all different options available in the market before recommending the right solution. There are also companies out there willing to help when the client’s needs are no longer in the contractor’s area of expertise or to help contractors better understand various options available in the market. After all, electrical contractors are often seen as trusted advisers. Contractors can grow their business by educating themselves and keeping abreast of new controls that are available in the market. Industry publications, manufacturer information sessions, trade expos, conferences and wholesalers with connections to reputable manufacturers are a few methods of finding out what is out there.

If the industry can have trouble assessing the best options for a client, imagine how some clients may feel when they have a specific idea for their lighting that may either be completely wrong for the design of their space or not within the budget they assumed. In these situations, it is important for contractors to have the tools available to help the clients meet their needs and budget. End users are often not aware of the options available but they are aware about how their workspace functions on a daily basis. This information could help in designing a suitable solution.

The decision about a system to control a building’s lighting can be made by analysing a number of factors such as: functionality requirements (eg, dimming, scene setting, front-end monitoring or emergency testing); new build or retrofit; flexibility; ease of use; and, of course, budget.

Occupancy sensors have become the lighting control of choice for reducing wasted lighting energy in common-area applications. Sensors can save energy and extend the life of lamps and ballasts. Occupancy sensors lower energy use by reducing: the use over kWh; power use during peak hours, either by automatically dimming lights or turning them off when they’re not needed; and a building’s internal heat gains. Reducing lighting use also lowers the building’s cooling requirements. The added functionality of daylight control allows clients to save energy by ensuring that lights remain off when daylight is sufficient even if the area becomes occupied.

The challenge of effectively specifying occupancy sensors involves selection of the right sensing technology. Different sensors available in the market include: microwave, ultrasonic, passive infrared (PIR), sound or combination-dual technology. Along with the sensing technology, the functionality options also need to be considered. Light fittings with dimmable ballasts allow for another level of control. As an example, a 24/7 operation such as a warehouse or corridors in any office space could be set at a predetermined dimmed level when the area is unoccupied. Standard occupancy sensors also require manual adjustment of their sensitivity and time delay to avoid false triggering. Some manufacturers have advanced this to enable IR programming, which allows for accurate setting from ground level.

Using sensors to turn down or turn off lighting systems can reduce energy costs. An individually addressable system further allows flexibility when areas are reconfigured. Simply add another detector where a new office has been created then via the use of a programming handset or commissioning software, rearrange the lights to work with the new detector. These systems may require the manufacturer’s authorised commissioning agent to perform programming.

Presence detectors are used to control lighting, turning lights off if a room is unoccupied or if there is sufficient natural light. Whereas scene setting with dimmable light fittings can provide complex lighting scenes for conference rooms and office suites if required.

Systems with a graphical interface are designed to provide building managers a flexible solution to control and monitor lighting from a personal computer. Some lighting control systems can also be scheduled to monitor and test the emergency fittings, and then produce a report on issues that need attention. A graphical interface also provides users the ability to reconfigure control devices or monitor their status.

Time settings for presence detectors can be adjusted to the client’s requirements. An event calendar could provide the client with the ability to schedule lighting control events for special occasions. Lamp error feedback is reported for any luminaire which has the correct ballast installed.

Most lighting control systems that you consider should provide a fully functional method for providing energy control and usability of the lighting infrastructure. There are occasions when the lighting infrastructure must be integrated with other building management systems. Integration with building management systems is usually controlled by a BMS interface.

When looking at refurbishments and fit-outs, contractors need to be aware of the pitfalls associated with offering the wrong solution. The wrong decision will not only reflect poorly on the contractor but also on the manufacturer of the installed products if the products are not installed as recommended. The incorrect product or solution may not provide desired results in terms of energy efficiency and cost savings. The expectations and the goals should be clarified with the client, installer and the supplier. How much does the client have in the budget for energy upgrades?, Has there been any analysis or auditing?, What is their expectation and what is it based on? Each party must understand the expectations and goals of the other party. Above all, one of the main considerations should be the level of comfort for the workers who occupy the space.