CP Keeps a “Green-i” on Rabley Barn
CP Electronics innovative “intelligent” lighting dimmer green-i and various detectors have been incorporated in a project being featured in Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme. The new-build project has been designed in keeping with the existing agricultural buildings on the site and utilises a state-of-the-art, energy saving lighting control system that offers the owners total flexibility and ease of use throughout the home.
Rabley Barn located in Marlborough, Wiltshire, is situated on a 700 acre site surrounded by arable land and a dairy farm. The property belongs to Andrew and Meryl Ainslie and, whilst Andrew manages the farm, Meryl runs a busy gallery in one of the converted barns.
As part of the lighting specification, the Ainslie’s were looking for a control system that would provide maximum energy savings and contacted local company Design 360 for inspiration. On the recommendation of Jon Baker at Design 360, it was agreed to install 3.6W LED lighting throughout the barn to provide an effective, energy efficient light source. The use of CP Electronic’s EBDSPIR detectors in service areas and bathrooms meant that the lighting comes on automatically when presence is detected and goes off when the area is vacated.
The EBDSPIR detector provides total flexibility and can also be programmed to provide automatic control for ventilation and heating if required. With its compact dimensions, the detector can easily be mounted flush into a ceiling tile or surface using a ‘fast fix’ detector box. An optional infrared version with a handset is also available to allow the user to override the lighting control system.
A good light source was required for the main stairwell at Rabley Barn as the owners often have elderly relatives to stay which requires constant illumination from dusk to dawn. Following a recommendation from 360 Design, a photocell supplied by CP was installed to detect the overall light levels and switch the lights on when insufficient natural daylight was not available.
For the main office area in the dwelling, CP’s innovative low profile Green-i has been installed. green-i offers a host of easily configurable features and contains an occupancy sensor that will switch off lighting after a time determined, of up to 30 minutes, by the user. Switching back on can be automatic when occupancy is detected, or this can be programmed manually. ‘Soft off’ and ‘soft on’ settings ensure gradual raising and lowering of light levels and the latter has a special feature for very low light levels, with an ultra-slow raising of lux levels so that eyes have time to adjust. There is also a security mode that will switch on lighting for 2, 4 or 6 hours after dusk - and a night light setting. The illuminated central dial ensures the switch is easy to locate in the dark.
Commenting on the installation, Jon Baker of 360 Design commented "The combination of the LED lighting and presence detection really works well. The LEDs were chosen as they have no warm up time and when switched on give full 100% light and combining this with CP’s presence detectors really does achieve a low energy/zero carbon building".
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