Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2007 - (Page 67)

How To B E AT T H E E N E R G Y C O D E S Lighting controls today for tomorrow BY ERIC LIND, Director, Commercial Marketing, Lutron, Coopersburg, Pa. he energy efficiency, occupant comfort and interior flexibility a building offers today are often designed just for the needs of today. However, it is of critical importance that the building is designed to allow for future expansion in size and capabilities. As time passes, it will have to meet requirements for use and efficiency different than those in place when the building first opened. Where energy efficiency, occupant comfort and interior flexibility are concerned, the lighting control system in a building is of paramount importance. Lighting can account for 40% to 50% of a building’s energy consumption. Too much or too little light in a space can cause occupant discomfort, disrupt productivity and make a space unfit for certain tasks. Today, lighting control systems can dramatically reduce energy consumption, improve the workplace environment and easily reconfigure or expand as the purposes of the spaces evolve and change. The lighting control systems of today are ready to T A building is often designed with lighting controls for today, but as time passes, it will have to meet requirements for energy efficiency and space flexibility far different from when it opened. adapt to the changing needs of the building, and stand ready to meet tomorrow’s needs of the building. Plan for energy savings Lighting control technologies equip buildings to actively reduce energy consumption in a manner that is sustainable throughout the life of the building. Actively managing energy use will allow facility managers to better control their operating costs. Without an adequate method of controlling the lighting provided in a space, the options will be limited to address high energy costs. Active daylighting is one strategy buildings can use to ensure energy savings now and in the future. For years, daylighting has been identified as a strategy with the potential to create large energy savings, while enhancing the office environment. However, the application of daylighting in buildings was limited to passive technologies that were capable of either shading a space or directing daylight deeper into the floor plan, but not capable of combining electric light output with available daylight. Light is a dynamic element of the building environment, but its availability fluctuates daily in both time and quantity. As more windows are added to commercial projects, more daylight enters into the space. In order to realize the potential benefits of natural daylight, it must be managed effectively by a combination of both dimming and shading systems. A variety of window and shading system technologies have been developed to manage daylight levels, including horizontal louvers, vertical blinds, draperies and roller shades. Designing controlled daylight in a space creates opportunities for healthier, more productive, more satisfied occupants, as well as enhanced building performance potential. Natural light is a tremendous source of light and heat, and can be harnessed and managed effectively with the right lighting control solution. Going active Active daylighting technologies recognize the total illumination in a space as both daylight and electric light. This active technology is capable of maintaining a target level of illumination on a work plane by measuring the daylight available, then dimming or raising overhead electric lights to assist Mother Nature. Energy savings from these daylighting technologies can reach 20% to 30%. Engineers also can equip a building for sustainability now and in the future by specifying Consulting-Specifying Engineer • SEPTEMBER, 2007 67

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2007

Contents M/E Roundtable Cover Story: Airborne Superbugs Third-Party Liability Back to School Product Spotlight Codes & Standards Professional Practices How To New Products Jobs/Cliassifieds Specifier’s Notebook Pure Power Supplement New Technologies, Same Old Transmission Problems Wireless Battery Recharging Solar Concentration Renewables Tracking System A Mighty Wind The Importance of Load Bank Testing Quality Power for Security Systems

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2007

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