Connected lighting gives you power and control over your lighting,air conditioning ,Door locks, fixtures, and beyond. Connected lighting can help reduce energy costs, give users remote control over lighting, and open up an array of personal lighting and decorative lighting options.
Basic Lighting Controls
Basic lighting controls consist of a manual on/off switch. In order to save money with these types of lighting controls, the individuals in the building must remember to turn them on when they enter the room and turn them off when they leave. Using energy-efficient light bulbs, like LEDs and CFLs, with basic switches can help reduce electric bills
Dimmer Switches
Dimmer switches are a slightly more advanced way to control room lighting. These switches allow an individual to slide the switch to their desired level of lighting, which uses less electricity than a switch that is either fully on or fully off. When combined with LED light bulbs, dimmer switches can help control your building’s energy costs.
Motion Sensors for Outdoor Lighting and Occupancy Sensors for Indoor Lighting
To reduce lighting costs, you may want to consider installing motion sensors on your outdoor lights, especially your security lighting. Outdoor and security lights only need to come on at night when a person or vehicle comes into the area. With a motion sensor, the light turns on when movement is detected and turns off after a certain number of minutes have passed without motion. In order for this to work well, the outdoor light bulbs need to produce light as soon as the light starts receiving power. Occupancy sensors are designed to turn on the lights as soon as someone enters a room and turns off after a certain number of minutes of no movement. Occupancy sensors are great for bathrooms, break rooms, recreational room and conference rooms.
Networked Lighting Control Systems
The most advanced type of lighting control system is a networked system, which can be part of a building automation system (BAS) package or designed as a stand-alone system. Networked lighting control systems allow the operators to control the lights from their computers or handheld devices that contain the lighting system software. Operators can turn lights on and off and set timers to control the lights. Advanced software programs can even store data and create usage charts so that energy usage can be precisely monitored.