Design firm Clanton & Associates has announced the results of a six-month study analyzing the value and energy savings of a variety of lighting control systems and technologies in typical commercial office lighting control retrofit projects. The overall findings show that wireless lighting control systems offer high energy and cost savings potential compared to conventional localized and centralized lighting control systems. The study was underwritten by wireless control manufacturer Daintree Networks, Inc.
“The value of advanced lighting controls is unmistakable, especially considering the ever-increasing energy efficiency mandates as well as ongoing initiatives to cut energy costs,” said Dane Sanders, professional engineer, principal and LEED accredited professional at Clanton & Associates. “Among controls systems, the research clearly shows that wireless controls offer significantly lower life-cycle and energy costs, and we are continuing to see the costs of wireless technology rapidly decrease.”
The study, titled Wireless Lighting Control: A Life Cycle Cost Evaluation of Multiple Lighting Control Strategies, modeled lighting retrofits for six controls scenarios in two sample office retrofit projects. The study resulted in several top-level findings:
• Advanced controls strategies such as daylight harvesting provide lower life-cycle costs than basic, code-compliant (ASHRAE 90.1 2007) lighting controls.
• Addressable, networked lighting control systems (wired and wireless) offer more features for the same or less life cycle cost as the other lighting control systems evaluated.
• Wireless controls solutions available today deliver up to 25% lower lifetime costs than comparable wired systems, while also providing significantly lower initial equipment and installation costs.
The goal of the study was to evaluate the cost effectiveness and potential energy savings of lighting control retrofit projects, with a special focus on advanced controls technologies. To this end, Clanton modeled and compared the results for sample retrofitted buildings in two different regions, Los Angeles and Boston, utilizing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climatological data for daylighting analysis and current energy costs. The study incorporated a thorough analysis of expected costs and energy savings from a variety of different lighting control systems, including ASHRAE 90.1 2007 and California’s Title 24-compliant localized controls, traditional panel-based, digital wired and wireless solutions.
A detailed report summarizing the key findings and methodology of the study can be downloaded for free at Daintree’s website here.
