Digital lighting management (DLM) is like having an energy savings specialist in every room. Since for most buildings lighting makes up 20 percent of their overall energy expense, and 38 percent of their electricity costs, technology solutions for improving efficiency in that area are an excellent investment. Digital lighting management connects every light fixture in a room, floor, or building to a network. The system monitors and adjusts each light depending on factors like time, occupancy, and available daylight.
Facility managers can easily access and control components of their lighting infrastructure to adjust when lights go on and off or how they dim. By eliminating wasted light, they cut back on energy consumption while having adequate lighting available where it’s needed.
The technology itself is relatively new, but the past few years have resulted in improvements that make digital lighting management even more effective. As buildings continue to implement changes toward goals for net zero energy, digital lighting management systems cut costs and boost sustainability.
Lighting Designed Around People
Legrand’s new Wattstopper line integrates with DLM to support code compliance. Blanco and Lumenetix araya5 logic modules provide the following:
- High-quality tunable natural light
- Two-channel solutions combine tunable white light with dimming
- Three-channel solutions alters corrected color temperature (CCT) to duplicate natural daylight.
- Araya5 provides advanced tunable color by mixing five colors for a wide range of temperatures
- DLM management switches can work together or separately
- Plug n’ Go configures automatically
Strategies to Improve Control
The push to save energy doesn’t only try to make buildings more energy-efficient, but also make them more intelligent. Here are some features of DLM that continue to evolve.
- Advanced tuning – Building facilitators can set target light levels to meet how each room will be used and adjust as necessary without occupants noticing lights getting brighter or dimmer.
- Scheduling – If necessary, every room of the building could be set on an individual schedule with just a few clicks. Turn lights on or off based on when they’re needed. Improve safety and security by dimming lights in some areas instead of turning them off completely.
- Occupancy sensing – Zoned lighting only allowed facilitators to turn off lights in an entire room when vacant. DLM systems allow occupancy sensing at smaller locations like work stations or individual desks.
- Daylight harvesting – Sensors measure the available light in each space and turn off when there is sufficient daylight. This makes use of natural daylight and improves energy savings without human occupants having to turn lights on or off.
- Load shedding – During times of the day when electricity costs peak, DLM systems reduce a building’s light use. Dimming lights where it has the least impact to shave energy use down to its minimum.
- Instant on – Improve security with outdoor lighting by introducing the element of surprise. Motion makes floodlights switch on to flood parking lots and security areas.
No matter what your building’s energy needs, proper deployment of compliant cable assemblies is imperative. C Enterprises provides solutions to cut costs and redefine the way you light your building. Contact us for a quote today.
