Automated lighting controls come in various forms. How they are each implemented into your home or office and how they work with one another will determine the effectiveness of your energy efficient lighting system. Many new forms of automated lighting controls aim to take advantage of information shared by new utility sponsored programs called the "smart grid".
In essence, smart grid technology takes a network of data from power plant production to regional and final end user consumption, and reports who is using how much energy, where and when. With this type of information power plant operations can distribute power accordingly without increasing peak production. From the end user's standpoint, our homes and offices, we can access this same information to determine when electricity will cost the most and respond accordingly.
But more effectively, companies have taken the initiative to develop automated demand response lighting controls that eliminate the need for human response. At the same time they enable the user to easily override the controls and set their own preferences. While demand response lighting controls can be used by residential consumers to dim lights in specific areas during peak demand, they are most effective in commercial office applications.
In essence, smart grid technology takes a network of data from power plant production to regional and final end user consumption, and reports who is using how much energy, where and when. With this type of information power plant operations can distribute power accordingly without increasing peak production. From the end user's standpoint, our homes and offices, we can access this same information to determine when electricity will cost the most and respond accordingly.
But more effectively, companies have taken the initiative to develop automated demand response lighting controls that eliminate the need for human response. At the same time they enable the user to easily override the controls and set their own preferences. While demand response lighting controls can be used by residential consumers to dim lights in specific areas during peak demand, they are most effective in commercial office applications.
A typical office operates on the 7am-6pm schedule, at which time most of its weekday occupants go home. These are the hours of peak demand, 6-9pm. At this time pre-designated areas of the office can dim or turn off lights in order lower energy consumption during peak hours. Demand response controls can be set to operate its lighting under a certain budget. Areas of the office can be prioritized to lose light ascending from the least needed. And of course, each space can be re-illuminated at the needs of its occupants.
By taking advantage of this natural daily pattern and using demand response controls, offices can save tons of money, and the entire local grid will benefit from the coordination. The most energy efficient factor of demand response lighting controls is its ability to "plug in" to the smart grid and instantaneously react to the local areas energy demand, thus reducing peak energy production which lowers the plants carbon emissions and the risk of blackouts.
By taking advantage of this natural daily pattern and using demand response controls, offices can save tons of money, and the entire local grid will benefit from the coordination. The most energy efficient factor of demand response lighting controls is its ability to "plug in" to the smart grid and instantaneously react to the local areas energy demand, thus reducing peak energy production which lowers the plants carbon emissions and the risk of blackouts.
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