lighting controls-sensors, timers, dimmers, fan speed controls

Description

Lighting controls are more than just devices used to turn lights on and off within a space. Well designed controls allow users to change the atmosphere of a space by adjusting the lighting levels to accommodate the immediate needs of the occupant. While some users prefer brightly illuminated spaces suitable for everyday activities such as reading and writing, others prefer a softer illuminated space, creating a more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Thus, well designed lightingcontrols not only allow users to adjust lighting levels through switching or dimming, but change the atmosphere in individual spaces within residences, offices, schools, hotels, stores, restaurants and other types of facilities. In addition, lighting controls can simultaneously reduce energy consumption, thus saving energy dollars and ultimately reducing the user’s impact on the environment. Lighting controls have traditionally been used to control the=intensity of lighting within a space and allow the atmosphere of the room to be adjusted to the user’s desires. Through the use of occupancy sensors, lighting controls are now used as a component of a high quality energy efficient lighting system designed to maximize operation and significantly reduce energy consumption. Over the last decade, occupancy sensors have been designed into control systems that address a wide variety of areas in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. These applications consist of individual enclosed offices, large open work spaces, conference ooms, hallways, storage closets and more. Overall, occupancy sensors have been proven to reduce lighting related energy consumption up to *5 percent depending on application. Currently, modern building designs are now integrating electric light sources with natural light that penetrates the space through strategically placed windows. This has enabled the building owner to incorporate photo controls to automatically adjust the electric lighting to a lower level and Occupancy and Vacancy Sensors take advantage of the natural light entering the spce. The overall goal is to provide a comfortable and well illuminated space for the user while reducing energy consumption and saving electricity. Although occupancy sensors are most commonly used in commercial buildings, they are now being applied to residential homes in the form of a vacancy sensor. These types of sensors retain the manual”on” function, but automatically turn the connected lighting off when the room becomes vacant. Residential applications that benefit from this type of control are generally bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms, closets and garages where lighting is often left on by the ***** summary, installing occupancy/vacancy sensors in residential, commercial and industrial buildings can reduce lighting energy consumption significantly. The installation of these types of lighting controls has been proven over time to decrease electric consumption, increase energy efficiency and ultimately reduce fossil fuel emissions.