The building is part office space, part workshop space on the ground floor, with similar on the first floor as the workshop is double height. Before installing the solution, the building was operated by normal PIR (passive infrared) sensors that would trigger T8 fluorescent lamps at full brightness, regardless of light levels outside. In addition, some areas were operated using simple on/off switches that were subject to being left on accidentally.

Low energy lighting, in combination with the latest retrofit lighting control technologies, means it is possible to illuminate premises in a way that’s highly efficient. For example, the newly-developed BG lighting management solution, which uses Encelium technology, is said to provide exactly the right amount of light, when and where required.

Mike Dauris, project manager at BG Energy Solutions, explains: “We deployed PIR sensors throughout the building, with the advantages of daylight harvesting and the ability to throttle down the light levels between 0 and 100%.”

These sensors are now present in all rooms. Between four and 10 light fittings are located in each ceiling, each featuring four T5 fluorescent lamps, which are around 40% smaller than T8 lamps. A network cable runs between the sensors and DALI ballasts.
 
A single controller is located in the server room. This has four channels/sub-networks: upstairs office; downstairs office; workshop; and a spare for future requirements.
 
Dauris continues: “When the first staff member arrives in the morning, lights come on in reception, as they move into the corridor the lights come on there, and then again when they reach their office. Importantly, they start at 100% brightness then ramp down if staff open the blinds, for example. Not that you would notice them ramping down; it takes place gradually.”
 
Energy reduction
The harvesting feature uses daylight to offset the amount of electric lighting needed to properly light a space, in order to reduce energy consumption. This is cited by Mike Dauris as a key benefit, along with variable load shedding, which allows time schedules to be set to load shed at certain times of the day, again helping to reduce energy costs.
 
He says: “The system is also BACnet compatible, which means it can communicate with a BMS. Using the sensors we can exploit the switching data to turn on other plant, such as air conditioning units, without needing a separate PIR or wall switch.”
 
The lighting energy management system allows authorised personnel to see energy savings for the entire site, as well as having them broken down into different categories, such as how much energy was saved by daylight harvesting, for instance, or by load shedding, or occupancy, or using T5 lamps instead of T8, and so on.

The system’s web-based software provides a high degree of visualisation and control of the lighting system, delivering real-life rendering of the installation to simplify management. Web-based dashboards and reports are available to monitor and adjust the effectiveness of energy management strategies. Depending on the installation, BG Energy Solutions says it is possible to cut electricity bills for lighting by up to 75%.

Forward planning 

The system can also be used to aid the maintenance function. For example, it will show lamp-lit time and whether or not the lamp is coming to the end of its life. This means maintenance teams can better schedule the purchasing of spares and replacement activities.

Dauris says: “There are lots of clever touches to the system. For instance, if you are working at a PC in an office with a sensor, it’s not unheard of for the lights to go off. The sensor can’t detect fingers tapping away at a keyboard and so thinks the office is empty. However, with a simple App installed on your PC, the computer talks to the system, saying that someone is still in occupancy.”
 
BG says its lighting control system is non-proprietary, easily-scalable and future-proof. It can be retrofit-installed, so is suitable for both new and refurbishment projects.