PIER sponsored research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) has focused on the combination of occupancy-based lighting controls and dynamically turnable light sources to create intelligent, bi-level luminaires for parking area applications.
The State Partnership for Energy Efficient Demonstrations (SPEED) program drives the market adoption of energy efficient technologies. Managed through the California Institute for Energy and Environment (CIEE), SPEED has conducted more than 100 demonstrations and other technology-transfer projects across the state, showcasing the benefits of best practices and state-of-the-art solutions.
Lighting accounts for about a quarter of California’s electricity use, and installing energy-efficient lighting can lead to significant energy, maintenance, carbon, and economic savings, according to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). In September 2010, the CPUC adopted a plan to achieve a 60–80% reduction in statewide electrical lighting consumption by 2020.
Demonstrations on UC and CSU campuses have proven that SPEED technologies offer reliable, cost-effective solutions for achieving deep energy savings. Effective July 1, 2014, many SPEED technologies will be required under California’s 2013 Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards.
Adaptive exterior lighting products are entering the marketplace at a rapid rate. By coupling features such as occupancy-based lighting controls with efficacious, dimmable sources, these solutions offer 30 – 75% energy savings over traditional systems.
The California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program funded the demonstration of bi-level fluorescent parking garage luminaires that combine mature fluorescent sources with occupancy-based dimming controls. The Philips Day-Brite Vaporlume fluorescent strip fixture, equipped with an optional occupancy sensor and step-dimming ballast, automatically reduces power consumption upon vacancy and increases to full power upon occupancy. Bi-level products may be combined with traditional photocontrols to maximize energy savings.
The California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program through the California Lighting Technology Center funded development of a bi-level parking garage luminaire that integrates state-of-the-art induction sources and occupancy-based dimming controls.
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.
Lighting California's Future – Lighting controls systems are readily available in the market that turn lights off when spaces are unoccupied or when sufficient daylight is available. However, installing these systems involves new wiring or rewiring and can be an expensive proposition to retrofit existing buildings. Adura Technologies, in partnership with the California Lighting Technology Center, developed a wireless integrated photosensor and motion sensor system that communicates wirelessly through radio frequency to circumvent this issue.
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.
