Lighting Control Strategies

Control of lighting systems ranges from the most basic and familiar manual wall switch to sophisticated computer control lighting management systems. Modern advances on occupant sensing and daylighting add additional cost-effective options for managing lighting systems. Forms of automatic lighting control include:

• Time clocks and photocells,  simple, reliable and cost-effective methods of controlling lighting systems.
  
• Occupancy sensors, sound and heat-sensing technology used to detect the presence of people in a space and turn lights off when spaces are unoccupied. They include delays and logic systems to avoid false or too frequent turning off of light fixtures.
  
• Dimming technologies  include common manual dimming switches as well as more sophisticated technology that automatically reduce light output according to the availability of daylight or other ambient light. While dimming of incandescent lamps is common, dimming of fluorescent fixtures can only be accomplished if they have ballasts designed specially for dimming applications.
  
• Daylighting controls  adjust light output levels from fixtures in perimeter areas next to windows or under skylights in response to natural outdoor light entering the building. Daylighting controls are available in continuous dimming and stepped reduction models.
  
• Automated lighting management systems provide centralized computer control of lighting systems.

More energy efficient lighting answers