Optimize Lighting Controls

Commercial Buildings – Solutions

BUILDING SOLUTION – Optimize Lighting Controls

Overview

Lighting represents approximately 20-25% of the energy load of a typical office building.  In a modern building, a number of proven energy management strategies are deployed to significantly optimize lighting energy, such as daylight harvesting, smart scheduling, occupancy detection, task tuning and demand management. Implementing these strategies requires addressable fixtures that can be individually controlled by the building automation system. LEED points are awarded for the energy savings delivered as well as the continuous commissioning capability which comes with digital lighting controls.

The Challenge

Unfortunately, the majority of office buildings in use today have simple lighting circuits with few or no zones.  This means entire banks or floors of lights remain on even if there are only a few tenants using a small part of the zone or when plenty of natural sunlight is coming through the windows.

Lights remain on even when no one is present

Retrofitting lighting controls involves installation of new lighting fixtures, sensors, switches and running wires.  When the circuitry doesn’t match the current purpose of the building and drawings are missing, the expense of such retrofits can be extraordinary.  In addition, opening up walls and ceilings can expose harmful substances such as asbestos.  The initial cost is high, the disruption to occupants often unacceptable, and the payback period is usually five years or more. As a result, lighting retrofits have not been done in the vast majority of buildings.

Lights remain on even when natural light is sufficient

The Cypress Envirosystems Solution

The Adura LightPoint System (ALPS) provides a cost-effective, easy-to-install non-invasive retrofit solution for existing lighting fixtures. It allows for wireless control of individual luminaires without changing out fixtures or ballasts. No running of wire or recircuiting is required.  With optimal control over specific lights, up to 50-75% energy savings can be achieved via daylight harvesting, smart scheduling, occupancy sensing, task specific lighting and demand response.

The chart below shows the potential savings for each energy saving strategy enabled by ALPS.

Case Studies

ALPS pays back in approximately three years and can qualify for utility energy rebates if available from the local utility.  This case study documents the benefits achieved with ALPS:

Wireless Lighting Controls Make Retrofits Practical – California Energy Commission (Sept 2008)