Lighting Zones
Different areas of a building have different lighting needs. A large open office space might need the lights on all day, but could save energy by turning most of the lights off at night. Lighting in a conference room that is only used intermittently could be turned off until someone enters the room. Areas near windows can take advantage of natural daylight by dimming lights during the day. Each of these lighting zones can be managed with one or more lighting strategies. Well-planned
lighting zones and the lighting control strategies used to manage
them should be identified based on how much light is needed, where
and when.
Switching
Switching lights on and off is the most basic form of lighting control. Unfortunately, lights are often left burning when they are not needed. A simple switch connected to a vacancy detector can be a powerful, inexpensive tool to reduce energy use in areas like closets and conference rooms.
Smart Time Scheduling
A smart scheduling system for lighting controls manages light levels based on time of day and day of the week. A typical open office space or retail business might have all lights on during business hours and rely on switches and vacancy detectors after hours.
Occupancy/Vacancy Detection
Vacancy detectors save energy by turning off lights when areas are vacant. Occupancy sensors add convenience by turning lights on when the device senses human presence. These devices can range from a simple passive infrared detector built into a light switch to a networked
detector that controls lighting and also contributes to an integrated building automation strategy – sharing occupancy/vacancy information with other components of a building automation system.
