Lighting controls play a key role in meeting building energy codes

by Andrew Guskov, Lutron
Buildings consume the bulk of energy used in the United States (about 49 percent ), and the building industry in turn has increased its focus on sustainability, efficiency and practical energy-saving solutions for both new construction and retrofits. Lighting control is a key strategy for saving energy in the built environment. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, lighting is, by far, the largest user of electricity in commercial buildings. It consumes 38 percent of a building's total electricity use—more than space heating, cooling, ventilation, equipment and computers combined. Lighting controls can drastically reduce that appetite. They can eliminate 60 percent or more of the wasted lighting energy in buildings while enhancing occupant comfort and productivity. They provide flexible control over the lighting in a space and reduce the amount of time the lighting system is in use as well as the amount of power it requires.

Energy Codes and Standards require lighting control
The nation's top three building energy codes and standards—California's Title 24, the International Energy Conservation Code and ASHRAE 90.1—are used by nearly every state as the basis for their local building energy code. They provide the minimum acceptable energy performance requirements for new construction and major renovations of commercial buildings.  READ MORE...

Did you know?

Commissioning the photosensor control of interior lights is a necessary step in realizing the electricity savings associated with daylighting systems. Unfortunately, due to cost concerns, commissioning is often skipped entirely or performed improperly, squandering the energy savings opportunities that result from daylighting design.  READ MORE...

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