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Could you stand to save one-third of your lighting system's energy consumption?
Savings greater than 30% are possible with advanced lighting controls, according to a new report on wireless advanced lighting control systems by the General Services Administration (GSA). In fact, GSA's assessments of two federal buildings in northern California achieved 54% energy savings by retrofitting advanced controls in a building with fluorescent lamps that had dimmable ballasts; another building implemented controls with new LED fixtures and saved a staggering 78%.
Could your building achieve similar savings? Discover the evolving capabilities of today's advanced lighting controls to find the best fit for your facility.
Evaluate Your Options
Lighting controls have evolved rapidly over the last 5-10 years and an increasing number of manufacturers are entering the control market, yielding more options for FMs than ever before, says Chuck Piccirillo, marketing director for ENCELIUM (a networked lighting control system) with OSRAM SYLVANIA. Buyers aren't stuck choosing from just a few vendors anymore - they can shop around until they find a system that can be truly customized to their needs.
Develop a list of specific requirements before you start looking at systems so that you can compare them all against the same framework. As you assess your facility's needs, consider these eight areas.
1) Energy Savings
This top priority is the chief motivator behind many lighting control system retrofits. Lighting controls should absolutely deliver energy savings, Piccirillo says. Consider a system that provides reporting capabilities so you can ensure you're meeting your savings targets.
2) Oversight
A networked system will allow you to check on the status of sensors and fixtures all over your facility, Piccirillo explains. This capability is useful for troubleshooting.
"If you have standalone...