Choosing the Right Integrated Lighting System
// March 31st, 2010 // House and Home
Integrated Lighting systems are currently more of a concept than a specifically defined system. Quite a few manufacturers install products which are marketed as Integrated Lighting, and they offer a certain collection of features. The universal feature offered by these systems is flexibility and intelligence. Certain companies will usually combine their own combination of sensors and ballasts that automatically adjust the amount of power being employed. A few companies use a blend of Solar Power Lights and electrical power to significantly reduce energy costs, yet others just rely on the effective use of existing daylight to lower electrical usage. Depending on the priorities of your institution, and the region you are located in, you will find one or two features that might make your life simpler for years to come.
Solar powered lighting has been in use for a generation, although there are one or two obstacles which remain hard to overcome. In certain regions of the world, daylight hours are precious in the wintertime, and during these same months, solar cells might be rendered useless by cloud cover or snow. By producing a configuration which accesses Solar LED Light Sets when it can, but changes to electric power if needed, some companies have effectively mixed energy savings with constant power availability.
Other manufacturers use models akin to Harvesting Daylight to use existing power sources in a more reasonable style. In order to harvest daylight, a group of specifically arranged sensors keeps track of the ambient sunlight levels in a room and then uses ballasts to adjust the artificial lights accordingly. Naturally, a building which already has skylights or solar tunnels might benefit most from this practice, although any business with sufficient windows would benefit from an energy savings by using this feature. Harvesting daylight helps a area to be properly lit for the full workday without the lights being 100% on day and night, thus saving energy.
Employing programmable timers is a tried and true procedure in building management. Timing lights to mechanically power on or off at certain times could make an open area safer and more comfortable. The issue with timers, of course, is that getting around them is not usually straightforward or practical. This will result in offices or warehouse floors being unnecessarily lighted on weekends, or employees stumbling along darkened hallways just because they show up early or clock out late. When those timers are combined with occupancy sensors, though, the “common sense” factor may be used. If a employee is in a given room, it is lit, but when a room is vacant for a while, the Solar LED Power Light Sets automatically click off.
If you have an opportunity to help with the erection of a new factory, or upgrade an outdated one, it could be worth your while to locate an Integrated Lighting company in your region. As soon as you realize the energy savings that could be the consequence of a one-time investment in integrated lighting, you’ll be astounded that your organization didn’t invest in it before.
