Demonstrations & project technology briefs.
Adura Technologies in partnership with the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) developed a wireless integrated photosensor and motion sensor (WIPAM) system that uses wireless communications to circumvent the complicated wiring issue, thus increasing the pool of buildings that could cost effectively benefit from lighting controls.
Adura’s Wireless Lighting Control System with flexible control and energy management features increased energy efficiency while providing powerful new management tools. The primary control strategies deployed in this parking garage are daylight harvesting and occupancy detection.
PIER-sponsored research, development, and demonstration has focused on the combination of occupancy-based lighting controls and broad-spectrum light sources to create intelligent, bi-level luminaires designed for street and parking area applications. These products achieve 30 – 75% energy savings compared to traditional street and area luminaires, meet stringent energy-efficiency standards, and provide excellent light distribution for reduced night sky pollution.
California's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program sponsored the development of adaptive parking garage luminaires that integrate intelligent controls with adaptive electronic drivers or ballasts to control light output based on garage occupancy. CLTC partnered with PIER on three demonstrations of the technology in parking garages at CSU Sacramento, CSU Long Beach and the San Marcos Civic Center Parking Garage. Luminaires operate at a reduced power during vacancy and switch to full output when occupants approach the area.
Many of the emerging light sources used for exterior lighting, namely light-emitting diode (LED) and advanced ceramic metal halide (CMH) lamps, provide full-range dimming. Occupancy sensors have provided adaptive lighting controls in exterior parking and area lighting applications, but some applications are not compatible with sensor coverage patterns. In these scenarios, combining dimmable sources with a controller that dims based on time of day can achieve comparable energy savings to utilizing occupancy sensors.
The Integrated Classroom Lighting System (ICLS) delivers flexible, high-quality, energy-efficient lighting that is easy to use and maintain. ICLS system retrofits can either utilize existing fixture housings, only replacing lamps and ballasts, or the existing fixtures can be entirely replaced with a one-to-one retrofit. ICLS fixture controls, with features such as scene control, dimming, daylight harvesting, and occupancy sensing, automatically maximize energy savings while giving teachers optimal control of their classroom lighting.
Energy savings can be achieved in corridors and other secondary spaces with an occupancy-based adaptive lighting system. The adaptive lighting system installed at the Latham Square office building is based on Lutron's Energi TriPak solution, a stand-alone platform for adaptive lighting that employs cost-effective wireless control devices and programmable dimming ballasts.
To maximize the respective benefits of open-loop and closed-loop systems, and minimize their limitations, the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) developed a dual-loop photosensor control system for skylight applications. The system features a control algorithm that monitors the open-loop and closed-loop photosensors and controls the electric light to provide the designed light level. It also automatically recalibrates nightly in order to adjust to longterm changes to the interior space.
Sinisa Novakovic, owner of Mishka’s café in downtown Davis, had two goals for the recent lighting upgrade in his café: create a cozy, inviting atmosphere for customers and save energy. In the main seating area alone he was able to cut his lighting energy use 85% by upgrading to LED lighting.
In 2012, UC Davis upgraded its exterior lighting as part of the university’s Smart Lighting Initiative. Wall packs on campus, like other exterior lighting fixtures, were retrofitted with dimmable LED sources, motion sensors, and wireless controls. This allowed the units to be incorporated into an adaptive campuswide lighting control system. The system offers an intelligent, networked approach to lighting and energy management, with improved lighting quality and optimal energy efficiency.
