The past decade has seen a quantum leap in the adoption of LED lighting technology combined with comprehensive lighting controls in new buildings. These developments have allowed owners and users of new construction to save substantial energy, reduce maintenance, and provide a much higher quality visual environment.
But what about older buildings?
As building owners and users are becoming more aware of existing building energy use due to municipal disclosure ordinances, emerging building performance standards, and energy transparency tools, the challenge of how to make cost effective improvements in existing and operating buildings is taking on new urgency. The vast majority of the building stock we use today was constructed prior to the widespread adoption of LEDs and the incorporation of comprehensive lighting controls capabilities. These buildings remain a substantial opportunity for reduced energy consumption, lower-cost maintenance, and carbon emissions reductions stemming from more efficient light sources and the adoption of advanced lighting controls strategies.
One solution to delivering the flexibility of advanced controls and substantial energy savings in existing buildings is the use of Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLCs). According to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2018, LLLCs is defined as “a lighting system consisting of one or more luminaires (light fixtures) with embedded lighting control logic, occupancy and ambient light (daylight) sensors, wireless networking capabilities and local override switching capability, where required.” What does this all mean? LLLC systems enable inherent granularity of control with individual, wireless sensors. In existing buildings, they can be deployed in a new fixture configuration or in a point-to-point retrofit – notably without the need to group power circuits by fixture zone – since all zoning, switching, and controls settings are done on a programmed basis. And, studies have shown annual energy savings up to 75% compared to traditional commercial lighting.
For existing buildings, LLLC technology enables the deployment of comprehensive lighting and controls retrofits on a space-by-space basis, or as tenants roll over in leased commercial buildings. Typically, a controls retrofit would require a commitment to a central networked controls system on a building-wide, floor-by-floor, or tenant suite basis. With LLLCs, individual fixtures can be replaced a space at a time (and as budget allows) enabling the retrofit to proceed as capital becomes available and without the initial cost and operational disruption of a building-wide retrofit.
Experts in the lighting industry know that when it comes to designing and installing a new lighting system, there is much more to consider than just the fixture cost. Significant resources go into every step of the design and installation process – and that’s where LLLC technology can make a big difference. Because every fixture has all sensing and response components, often pre-commissioned right out of the box, there is a low barrier to getting started, giving facility decision-makers the ability to make incremental lighting upgrades as they’re ready. LLLCs can also simplify power wiring, especially in the context of difficult-to-access existing building ceiling conditions, since wiring does not have to be delivered to fixtures in pre-designed zone configurations. This can be a source of significant cost-savings, especially in retrofits where controls upgrades are required.
LLLCs also allow for easy implementation of “task tuning” – essentially “right-sizing” the amount of light needed for occupants based on their task requirements, or simply based on the visual preference of building users. This strategy, which LLLCs are uniquely positioned to employ at the most granular level, provides for a better, more custom user experience and comes with added energy savings and future flexibility if the task-type changes or if the occupant’s preference changes.
In aggregate, LLLCs offer an unparalleled opportunity to upgrade lighting systems in existing buildings, and to do it at the pace and scale that fits with the business objectives of an organization. They also offer building owners an opportunity to greatly increase the impact of their energy-efficiency investments in lighting and lighting controls while providing building users and tenants with higher quality lighting and more flexibility and adaptability for the future.
Christopher Meek is associate professor of architecture at the University of Washington and director of the Center for Integrated Design at the University’s College of Built Environments. He can be reached at [email protected].
