Making the Most of Energy Efficient Lighting

Lighting in Commercial Buildings

Efficient Lighting?
Surely lights are just lights! Wellno! Many Different Technologies. Many Different Lamp Types.

AND.
Frequently the wrong light is in the wrong place doing the wrong thing!

All lights are NOT the same!

Age.Many buildings use older types of luminaires. Technology.Fluorescent? Discharge? Incandescent? Design.Form over function. Types of Lamp Control Gear.Electronic? Magnetic?

But surely it cant make that much difference? Lights are just Lights.

Lighting accounts for around 12% of energy usage!

Getting it RIGHT can often save 50% or more.

AND Significantly reduce maintenance costs!

A 50% saving on lighting at 8p/kWh can typically

achieve an investment payback of 2 yrs or better.

If the design and technology choice is rightthen efficiency will follow!

Things to Consider!
Lamps and Lamp Control Gear. Luminaire Design. Lighting Scheme Design. Lighting Controls. New Technologies.

Identify Technologies
Switch start / Electro Magnetic. T12 Lamps T8 Lamps Discharge Types (SON / MBFU / Metal Halide)

How to identify old types

Lamp end flickers. Flashes when switched on. Colour. Shape and size of lamp. General state of luminaire.

Lamp Control Gear

Must be high frequency! Make sure it has warm start for improved lamp life. Look for quality brands (Philips, Osram, etc)

Cheaper switch start lamp control gear is much less efficient. Lamps do not last as long with electro magnetic control gear.

Lamp Type
Where possible use linear lamps.

Lamps with no bends are more efficient and give a higher Lm/W. T5 lamps are around 114 Lm/W. Linear lamps last longer.

Replacement lamps are cheaper.

 Avoid where possible: 2D lamps PLL lamps PLC / T lamps

Lower Lm/W (26W PLC only 66 Lm/W!) Shorter lamp life

Even when high frequency these types still do not perform as well as linear types.

 Comparison of lamp types and efficacy.

Type
Linear T5

Wattage
28W

Lm/W
114

Linear T8
PLL Linear T12 2D PLC

36W
55W 85W 28W 26W

93
84 72 73 63

All above based on high frequency lamp control gear and colour 840 (except T12)

Luminaire Design
Luminaire design is critical!
Luminaire design is a balance between form and function.
Often style compromises efficiency. Efficiency is not just down to an efficient light source.

 How can luminaire design effect the efficiency?

The efficiency of a luminaire is dependant on how well the light is directed from the light source (lamp) to the working plane. This can be affected by: The shape of the luminaire.

The type of materials the luminaire is made from.

The design and colour of the diffuser or reflector. Where the light source is placed in the luminaire.

 Can the efficiency of a luminaire be quantified?

Light Output Ratio (LOR) - expressed a % loss of light in the luminaire the higher the % the less efficient the luminaire is.

Luminaires such as linear prismatic types will have a lower LOR compared to indirect types. In this case light only has to pass through the prismatic diffuser rather than reflect off the curved back of the fitting. This causes less loss of light giving the prismatic type a lower LOR.

 Type of lamp used in luminaire and LOR.

Linear lamps are better than compact types in achieving a lower LOR. All side of the lamp directly distribute light.

PLT / PLC lamps with multiple elements are less efficient due to the reduced distribution of light from the internal facing sides of the lamp.

The 26W 4-pin PLC is used frequently in round down lighters. Not only does it have a low Lm/W but it also contributes to a low LOR.

 Luminaire shape and LOR.

Round luminaires tend to have a higher LOR.

Small round luminaires are even worse!

Linear luminaires tend to have a lower LOR and are more efficient.

Current lighting design tends to favour the round down lighter as it looks good and makes a good feature. However it is very poor in terms of efficiency as it has a poor LOR and uses a lamp type with a poor Lm/W. Typically lighting schemes need to use twice as many of these than if an equivalent linear luminaire were used. This simply results in twice the power consumption for a given light level!

 Complex shapes and reflectors.

Luminaires made up of complex shapes and complex reflectors often have a poor LOR. Style often compromises efficiency.
Direct / Indirect centre basket type luminaires are currently popular. Typically they use 2x40W or 2x55W PLL lamps mounted behind the centre basket and rely mostly on reflection. Thats 80W or 110W per luminaire.
To achieve the equivalent light level using recessed CAT2 or prismatic type luminaires would only require 3x14W or 4x14W. Thats 42W or 56W per luminaire.

 Luminaire materials.
The more opaque or coloured the diffuser or reflective surface, the higher the LOR will be.
Luminaires with thick white opaque polycarbonate diffusers require much higher wattage lamps to achieve a given light level at the working plane.

Whilst the spread (uniformity) of light will be good, is this necessary considering it may double the required lumen package of the lamp (and consequently energy consumption).

These may be prone to discolouration as the luminaire ages.

Lighting Scheme Design

Lighting scheme design is essential to maximise efficiency.
Even using the most efficient luminaires available will not maximise efficiency if they are inappropriate for the usage, too numerous or badly planned.

 Dont over design it!

Design to the appropriate light level for usage.
Dont over design and use to many luminaires.
Lighting designers often over light areas. This is just a waste of energy. It also increases your investment needs as you will end up installing more luminaires than required. Electrical contractors often dont understand lighting design and just install on what has gone before. Its also cheaper for them to cut out he design phase and think it will be okay. This frequently results in over lit areas. Luminaires manufacturers are out to sell luminaires thats there business. Be wary of them giving free lighting design services as they often over design it.

 Dont let style over ride function.

KISS Keep it Simple Stupid! The simplest luminaires often achieve the best efficiency.

The simple lighting schemes often achieve the best efficiency.

Both of the above often cost less!

Make sure the design is appropriate for the application.

Lighting Controls
Lighting controls can decrease energy usage dramatically.
Lighting controls should not compromise the user experience (or safety).

Operation should be hardly noticeable by the user.

 Controls can be based on daylight level, occupancy or a combination of both.

Controls typically can add up to 75% off time or reduction to running time when used in the correct circumstances.

Controls are often installed in areas where they are unlikely to pay back the installation costs. Dont just assume they will save energy!

 Identifying appropriate areas.

Controls are not appropriate in every area. Due to the cost of installation it is worthwhile identifying suitable areas.

Light level controls where natural daylight in useful amounts is present then dimming controls on individual and groups of luminaires will be very beneficial.
Occupancy controls in areas of intermittent usage will be beneficial BUT remember health and safety!

 Make sure dimming controls are used.

Lighting controls that dim luminaires rather than switch them on or off are beneficial.

The user experience is better as a reduction in light is less noticeable than just simply switching it off.

Lamps last longer when dimmed to a low level 10%, rather than switched off. Increasing the number of switching cycles reduces lamp life dramatically.

 Use the appropriate type of controller and sensor.

Where daylight controls are used, make sure the controller is in the right place and the right type. Dimming due to reflections, false sensor pickup can be very annoying to the user and often cannot easily be over ridden. This will just result in lots of maintenance calls!

Make sure occupancy sensors are the right type for the job. PIR and microwave types are available.
Microwave types are great in corridors, at high and on stairs. PIR is more suited to local proximity such as in offices or toilets.

 Give the user some control.

Provide users with controls that can easily overridden. It might cost a bit more to install, but the user satisfaction will be better in the long run which will result in fewer maintenance calls!

New Technology
LEDs.
LED technology is the future of lighting. It is generally only at about 65-75 Lm/w currently.

It has a high cost compared to existing technologies.

High Frequency Fluorescent.

 Current LED Applications.

Retail spot lights, decorative lighting, feature lighting, display lighting. Commercial feature lighting.

NOT main area lighting better results will be gained with fluorescent or high frequency discharge types.

 Current limitations with LEDs.

Lumen package is still not equivalent to fluorescent.
Currently best in applications which require a point source of light spotlights, etc.

Expensive.
Still not a replacement for linear fluorescent. Fluorescent and discharge types have a lower up front cost.
Make sure you are considering the lasted generation of LED technology. Development is happening quickly so many outdated products are still on the market. Cheaper imports are often old types which have low life, poor colour rendition and low output.

 LED Developments.
Lumen package is rapidly increasing.

In the last year output for a given power consumptions has nearly doubled!

The next year will see more jumps in output. Remote phosphor LEDs will become more common.

Philips are suggesting Q3 / Q4 of 2011 will see the release of an LED equivalent of a T5 4ft and 5ft lamp.

 Should I wait for LEDs to develop?

Some products are cutting edgesome are bleeding edge!
LEDs will just keep getting better in the next couple of years. We are at the beginning of the curve at the moment. For some time they will be more expensive than an equivalent fluorescent type.
At the moment it is essential to stick to mainstream manufacturers. There are a lot of other brands at the moment and some are bleeding edge. If a major manufacturer releases a product is has to work.They sell so many they cant afford for it not to.

Early technology may appear desirableuntil it fails and cost the same again in maintenance call outs!

 High Frequency Fluorescent.

This technology is in its prime at the moment. Take advantage!
Well established. Excellent value for money. Good energy efficiency. Getting better all the time with new innovations:-

 New Fluorescent Innovations

T5 / T8 Eco Range (lower wattage for given output).
Long Life lamps and gear Extra life lamps up to 40,000 hours Extreme lamps and gear up to 65,000 hours. Lamps for extreme cold or warm environments Polar series lamps and high amalgam lamps.

VHO (very high output) lamps up to 120W in T5!