LIGHT AND HEALTH
The Heat Is On
But No One’s Around
By JENNIFER BRONS Light and Health Research Center at Mount Sinai Photos courtesy of the author
Unlike when lights are left on in vacant spaces, energy waste from operating mechanical systems in vacant spaces may not be as obvious. But some have taken notice and are looking at ways to integrate lighting controls with mechanical systems to save energy and prepare buildings for future energy management needs. Energy codes for commercial projects in North America require increasingly strict and complex lighting controls. While standalone room-level lighting controls may make sense for small projects, luminaire-level lighting controls (LLLCs) are 20
designing lighting
providing new flexibility for many commercial buildings. Recently, I spoke with specifiers, facilities managers, energy service personnel, and manufacturers who are successfully working with LLLCs to save energy, both with lighting and HVAC systems. Their projects are using occupancy data from LLLCs to send a signal to the mechanical equipment to automatically adjust thermal setpoints or reduce air flow. LLLCs provide an opportunity for reducing HVAC energy use, especially in spaces with intermittent occupancy patterns like businesses with workfrom-home policies.