Sensing the need for lighting control
Suzanne Gill looks at two lighting projects, where energy savings have been achieved through the use of presence detectors
At 88 stories high, Petronas Towers is Malaysia's most prestigious building. When it was built in 1998 it was also the tallest man-made structure in the world. One tower is the HQ of Petronas, the Malaysian Government-owned oil and gas company. The other tower is occupied by a number of companies including Boeing, IBM, Microsoft and Reuters.
Because Malaysia's built infrastructure is developing so fast it is outgrowing the country's ability to generate electricity, and so energy saving and going green has become a priority in the country. With lighting accounting for a significant portion of the office building's electricity costs the property management team were keen to find ways to reduce this cost.
One solution was to install Ex-Or LightSpot sensors in all cellular offices, meeting rooms, pantry areas and designated smoking areas in more than 40 floors in each of the twin towers.
Ex-Or LightSpot presence detectors help eliminate the unnecessary use of lighting by responding to the movements that occur when an area is occupied. Anyone entering a controlled area automatically activates the lighting and sustains it by even the smallest movements they make as they go about their normal activity. When they leave, the lights automatically switch off, and will come on again only when the area is again occupied.
The LightSpot installation at Petronas Towers was enhanced by the inclusion of photocells which hold off the lights around the glass perimeter of the building to take advantage of high levels of natural light, providing additional energy savings. It is estimated that lighting load savings of between 40 and 60% are now being achieved in the monitored areas.
An educational lighting scheme
Moving a little closer to home, energy efficiency was also a high priority for lighting in a new extension to Arthur Mellows Village College in Peterborough. Another important requirement was the lighting should provide a comfortable and pleasant working environment.
Electrical contractors, T Clarke (Midlands), worked closely with CP Electronics to deliver a good lighting design solution to meet the needs of each space. Vitesse Plus Marshalling Boxes from CP were chosen for the classrooms and refectory to operate in conjunction with Ridi Lighting’s F-LINE low-profile luminaires with T5 80W fluorescent lamps, which provide a broad, even distribution. CP’s MWS3 and MWS1 microwave detectors have been installed in the corridors and toilets.
Vitesse Plus marshalling boxes offer multi-channel switching for the control of up to three rooms, PIR and switch control, dimming options and daylight linking. Presence management has also been included in the scheme. This allows for the switching on and off of the luminaries, whether or not someone is in the room. The system also provides daylight linking on the seats closest to windows so that illumination can be reduced in those areas when sufficient natural daylight is available.
With a detection range of up to 30m, the MWS-1 microwave sensor is an unobtrusive, self-contained unit with an adjustable time delay. The MWS-3 Multi-Sense offers a presence/absence detection capability by using an adjustable sensor head, the angle of which can be changed for different detection patterns and area coverage. All products in the CP Electronics range have been designed for ease of installation and a reduction in costs.
For Arthur Mellows Village College, CP Electronics has provided a versatile system that can easily be reconfigured to suit changing requirements. The lights turn off when not in use, providing energy savings and longer lamp life is achieved due to the shorter burning times which, in turn, reduces maintenance costs and adds to the financial savings.
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