| As the pressure piles on to save energy, reduce | | | | Along with timers and manual dimmers, which have |
| carbon footprints and generally 'go green', there is a | | | | been on the market for several years, sensors are |
| need for increased understanding in how best to | | | | becoming increasingly popular in commercial and |
| achieve energy efficiency. Choosing the right lighting | | | | industrial buildings. Designed to detect and activate |
| solution goes a long way to achieve this | | | | when someone enters the room and switch off |
| environmental aim, higher installation costs should not | | | | when they have left, PIR sensors can prevent lights |
| deter the selection of a product that will prove to be | | | | being left on in empty areas of the building. |
| the most cost and energy efficient in the long term. | | | | Toilets continue to be the biggest culprit for wasted |
| In recent years there have been many new building | | | | energy in commercial premises, with lighting and |
| regulations that affect heating and lighting in | | | | ventilation only needed when they are occupied. This |
| commercial structures. The most recent, and perhaps | | | | problem is being addressed by ceiling mounted PIR |
| most important at present, is the introduction of | | | | sensors, which detect presence by passive infrared, |
| Energy Performance Certificates, which, after 1 | | | | effectively enhanced for the smallest of movements |
| October 2008, means that all commercial sites in the | | | | and holding lights off in bright ambient conditions. |
| UK will be assessed and certified before they can be | | | | Providing an off delay after the last observed |
| sold or let, regardless of whether they are new builds | | | | movement can save an average of 80% on energy |
| or existing premises. | | | | wasted. If the same product is used in meeting or |
| Industrial and commercial properties are a key focus | | | | staff rooms up to 65% can be shaved off the |
| because they are responsible for 45% of the energy | | | | energy bill. |
| usage in the UK (1) and, with lighting making up a | | | | A more advanced PIR can also offer programmable |
| large percentage of this, commercial property | | | | presence detection for lighting control in offices and |
| developers and owners are looking at how lighting | | | | open plan workstations. |
| can help them to achieve a better energy | | | | Providing an off delay after the last observed |
| performance rating. | | | | movement can save an average of 80% on energy |
| In addition the Carbon Trust UK estimates that | | | | wasted. If the same product is used in meeting or |
| businesses could save £1.4 billion and in excess | | | | staff rooms up to 65% can be shaved off the |
| of 11 million tonnes of CO2; this year alone, just | | | | energy bill. |
| through implementing simple low or even no cost | | | | Long range detectors provide effective energy |
| energy efficient measures and one of the biggest, | | | | saving control for large areas such as those in |
| they claim, is replacing inefficient lights. | | | | warehouses, sports halls or conference centres and |
| ...the Carbon Trust UK estimates that businesses | | | | offer incredible energy savings of up to 80%. These |
| could save £1.4 billion and in excess of 11 | | | | products consist of a control unit and low voltage |
| million tonnes of CO2 this year alone... | | | | microwave detectors, which can be combined to |
| In recent years, advances have been made in lamp | | | | create one self-contained unit. The detectors can |
| and optical technology, as well as HF control gear and | | | | even see movement through glass and are fixed in a |
| light fittings, which have resulted in increased options | | | | robust unit, secure against accidental damage. |
| across the board. A number of new products have | | | | Reducing energy consumption has become so |
| come to market, for example energy efficient LEDs, | | | | important that increasing numbers of intelligent |
| with manufacturers dedicating significant resources to | | | | products are being introduced to the market. |
| new product research and development. Looking to | | | | Already, some superior PIRs can detect the level of |
| the immediate future, improvements are being made | | | | light entering the room from other rooms or through |
| in energy efficient LEDs, to make them brighter and | | | | doors and windows, and adjust the brightness of the |
| more suitable in a wider range of applications. | | | | light accordingly. |
| Advancements in CFL technology will allow the lamps | | | | Microwave sensors are another option open to |
| to be dimmed and achieve full brightness at a quicker | | | | facilities managers and specifiers. Used most often in |
| rate. | | | | applications such as larger classrooms, storage aisles |
| A common deterrent to opting for an energy | | | | and conference rooms, these devices are directional |
| efficient lighting solution can be the initial investment | | | | presence detectors with built in photocell use, utilising |
| that is required, as many businesses can be unaware | | | | microwave technology and featuring a movement |
| that financial support is available to organizations | | | | detector. For example, if used in a storage facility, an |
| under the climate change levy package, when they | | | | employee walking along the ends of the aisles will not |
| invest in low carbon technologies. Put simply, this | | | | activate any lighting - only once they have entered a |
| allows for a 100% first year Enhanced Capital | | | | specific aisle will those lights be activated and then |
| Allowance (ECA) scheme, and a £50m fund | | | | deactivated as they leave. |
| for energy efficiency and renewables, which means | | | | Ultrasonic sensors are perfect for corridors, as they |
| some of the cash spent on converting lighting to | | | | are fully automatic, directional presence detectors |
| energy efficient products, can be claimed back. | | | | with photocell, and save energy by switching off |
| The cost of the product throughout its life is also | | | | lights in unoccupied areas and by holding lights off in |
| becoming increasingly more important than the initial | | | | occupied areas that already have adequate natural |
| outlay, as low maintenance costs have also started | | | | light. The sensor works by using ultrasonic radar to |
| to be seen as a key factor in product selection. | | | | detect movement, which involves transmitting an |
| Within any organization, performance and reliability | | | | ultrasound signal and examining the reflected signal |
| are paramount, and the evolution of energy efficient | | | | for frequency variations. |
| lighting technology offered by a raft of | | | | Lighting is responsible for a large proportion of the |
| manufacturers means there is no need to | | | | energy used in commercial buildings, and by using |
| compromise on quality. In some cases, energy | | | | new lighting technologies and installing the most |
| efficient technology, such as the new T5 fluorescent | | | | intelligent controls, companies can save hundreds if |
| lamps offer best in class performance with no | | | | not thousands, on wasted energy, much more than |
| noticeable drop in performance towards the end of | | | | the initial outlay for the upgrade. On the whole, if a |
| its life. | | | | system is more energy efficient it may have higher |
| However, it's not just the type of lighting installed | | | | initial costs, but it must be remembered that greener |
| that can reduce energy consumption; lighting controls, | | | | products and controls can dramatically reduce energy |
| when used effectively, can also dramatically increase | | | | consumption and maintenance requirements. |
| efficiency and reduce energy bills. | | | | |