Advanced lighting control (ALC) strategies have demonstrated the ability to curb electricity use in US buildings by more than 30 percent, according to a report released by the General Services Administration. Buildings.com provides a number of things to consider when evaluating ALCs to find the one that will best meet the needs of your facility.
Since energy savings is a primary driver of many lighting control system retrofits, finding a system with reporting capabilities will help you ensure you’re achieving targeted savings.
Systems that are networked allow you to monitor sensors throughout your building easily, which in turn helps you to troubleshoot problem areas more quickly.
The user interface should be easy to understand, and adjusting setpoints and monitoring energy consumption should be easy. A system and software that is over-complicated may not be worth the time spent learning to use it.
Can changes to light levels or zones be made easily in-house, or will they require a service call? Evaluate whether or not the vendor’s requirements are in keeping with your expectations and goals.
Consider a control system that has an acceptable degree of flexibility. Does it allow you to adjust the control levels if your objectives for a particular space change? Will the system scale to additional floors or structures if needed?
Because lights dim over time, most offices are over lit. Will the control system allow you to adjust light levels to meet individual occupant needs?
If the potential ALC includes daylight harvesting, a system that controls fixtures near the windows and compensates for daylight further into the building will help you get the biggest bang for your buck.
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