R EAL ESTATE WEEKLY As seen in... WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2009 EUGENE GAGLIANO, P.E., LEED, A.P. SENIOR ENGINEER, JFK&M CONSULTING GROUP, LLC Right now when everyone, including Developers, Building Owners, Building Managers and Tenants, are trimming costs wherever they can, it is time to consid- er taking a second look at your Lighting Systems. For a modest investment, you can not only save today but also continuously into the future. And, you can save on both your electrical expenses and your heating expens- es. So here are some facts you should know and some lighting control strategies that you can implement. According to the 2003 Commercial Buildings En- ergy Consumption Survey (CBECS) conducted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, commercial buildings consume 21% of their total energy usage for lighting. In addition to providing light and using energy, lighting fixtures contribute to the heat load in a building. Although fluorescent fixtures are one of the most efficient lighting sources, approximately 20% of the energy going into a fluorescent lamp is converted to light. This means that the rest of the energy from the fixtures is given off as heat. Therefore, reductions in lighting usage will result in less heat being rejected into the space, which will decrease the energy required for additional space conditioning as well. In order to achieve lighting reductions, there are a few simple steps that can be taken. State adopted energy codes, based on ASHRAE 90.1, require the use of automatic lighting shutoff. Lighting relay panels with timeclock function will satisfy the minimum requirements of the energy code, providing some energy savings. Though, these systems are best suited for spaces with scheduled times for occupancy, such as large office spaces. On the other hand, occupancy sensors provide a greater degree of energy savings, by further turning off lights in unoccupied spaces. Lighting usage could be reduced by 50% in generally occupied spaces and up to 90% in spaces such as restrooms and storage areas that are mostly unoccupied. These figures are based on U.S. EPA estimates for time in unoccupied spaces. Depending on the amount of daylight available in the interior spaces of a building, daylight harvesting controls can be beneficial. It has been estimated that daylight harvesting systems can generate 30-40% sav- ings in lighting energy consumption. These systems do have a higher first cost than occupancy sensing or timeclock control but can provide greater or additional ongoing benefits. The key to maximizing the impact of these light- ing control strategies is the proper application and design of each different type of lighting control system within a building. Lighting control systems combin- ing multiple lighting reduction technologies have the Saving dollars and energy in today’s tight economy INSIDE CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN greatest potential for generat- ing savings in lighting energy consumption. An example of combining such technologies would be to utilize: • Central Timeclock Control for core building areas such as corridors and lobby spaces; • Occupancy Sensor Control for spaces such as pri- vate offices and restrooms; and • Daylight Harvesting Controls for perimeter spaces with sufficient amounts of daylight contribution. Initially, there are cost implications for each type of lighting control system. However, the proper design and application of the different systems will also provide the greatest payback and lowest life cycle costs. There are also numerous local, state and federal government incentives as well as utility rebates for installing lighting control systems. And, if that is not reason enough to install such a system, think about the additional benefit that you can offer to new tenants/owners as a further enticement to lease/buy in your buildings. It is simply a win-win for everyone at a time when we can all appreciate an extra benefit.
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Real estate Weekly As seen in...
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2009
EugEnE gagliano, P.E., lEED, a.P.sEnior EnginEEr, JFK&M Consulting grouP, llC
Right now when everyone, including Developers, Building Owners, Building Managers and Tenants, are trimming costs wherever they can, it is time to consid-er taking a second look at your Lighting Systems. For a modest investment, you can not only save today but also continuously into the future. And, you can save on both your electrical expenses and your heating expens-es. So here are some facts you should know and some lighting control strategies that you can implement.
According to the 2003 Commercial Buildings En-ergy Consumption Survey (CBECS) conducted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, commercial buildings consume 21% of their total energy usage for lighting. In addition to providing light and using energy, lighting fixtures contribute to the heat load in a building. Although fluorescent fixtures are one of the most efficient lighting sources, approximately 20% of the energy going into a fluorescent lamp is converted to light. This means that the rest of the energy from the fixtures is given off as heat. Therefore, reductions in lighting usage will result in less heat being rejected into the space, which will decrease the energy required for additional space conditioning as well.
In order to achieve lighting reductions, there are
a few simple steps that can be taken. State adopted energy codes, based on ASHRAE 90.1, require the use of automatic lighting shutoff. Lighting relay panels with timeclock function will satisfy the minimum requirements of the energy code, providing some energy savings. Though, these systems are best suited for spaces with scheduled times for occupancy, such as large office spaces.
On the other hand, occupancy sensors provide a greater degree of energy savings, by further turning off lights in unoccupied spaces. Lighting usage could be reduced by 50% in generally occupied spaces and up to 90% in spaces such as restrooms and storage areas that are mostly unoccupied. These figures are based on U.S. EPA estimates for time in unoccupied spaces.
Depending on the amount of daylight available in the interior spaces of a building, daylight harvesting controls can be beneficial. It has been estimated that daylight harvesting systems can generate 30-40% sav-ings in lighting energy consumption. These systems do have a higher first cost than occupancy sensing or timeclock control but can provide greater or additional ongoing benefits.
The key to maximizing the impact of these light-ing control strategies is the proper application and design of each different type of lighting control system within a building. Lighting control systems combin-ing multiple lighting reduction technologies have the
Saving dollars and energy in today’s tight economyINSIDE CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN
greatest potential for generat-ing savings in lighting energy consumption. An example of combining such technologies would be to utilize:
• Central Timeclock Control for core building areas such as corridors and lobby spaces;
• Occupancy Sensor Control for spaces such as pri-vate offices and restrooms; and
• Daylight Harvesting Controls for perimeter spaces with sufficient amounts of daylight contribution.
Initially, there are cost implications for each type of lighting control system. However, the proper design and application of the different systems will also provide the greatest payback and lowest life cycle costs. There are also numerous local, state and federal government incentives as well as utility rebates for installing lighting control systems. And, if that is not reason enough to install such a system, think about the additional benefit that you can offer to new tenants/owners as a further enticement to lease/buy in your buildings. It is simply a win-win for everyone at a time when we can all appreciate an extra benefit.
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