Lighting systems often aim to conserve energy through efficient lighting controls which effectively control the amount of light required. It not only saves energy but also extends the life of light bulbs and lamps used.
Energy can be reduced with the help of
lighting controls by:
- Automatically dimming the lights or switching them off when they
are not required
- Manually allowing people to lower light levels whenever possible
- Decreasing the number of hours that the lights are used on a
yearly basis.
There are different types of lighting controls:
- Occupancy Sensors: These sensors are designed to detect noise or movement using ultrasonic, acoustic or infra-red sensors. The sensors switch the lighting on or off depending on the occupancy or non-occupancy, as the case may be, for a set period of time. It is important to set an appropriate period of time as most people may tend to be quiet and remain still for short periods, for example during a slide show presentation in a conference room.
- Time Based Control: The least expensive type of automatic control is a timed-turnoff switch. Mechanical or automatic timers provide a choice of preset time intervals that need to be selected.. The amount of energy saved is indirectly proportional to the time span of the timer; more energy is saved when the time span is shorter.
- Daylight Linked Control: The photoelectric cells in this lighting control system detect the amount of sunlight available and accordingly turn on or off. It is important to preset a particular amount of time in this lighting control in case a few fast moving clouds block the sunlight for a short period of time. Adjusting the output of electrical light in accordance with the amount of natural light available to provide optimum lighting is possible with daylight linked controls. Photoelectric cells are also used to dim lights at dawn and dusk and during periods of reduced traffic or activity when combined with activity sensors.
- Localized Switching: This lighting control is suited for large spaces. Individual control is given to control specific parts of the space without affecting other areas.
These lighting controls are used in a wide range of places such as:
- residences
- large offices
- restrooms
- conference rooms
- classrooms
...Read more
Close
