Light the way with occupancy sensors

In a government building, it is particularly important to make sure work areas are well lit when they are occupied and not lit when they are unoccupied. Due to the number of lamps being powered, reaping these energy savings can be as simple as installing occupancy sensors to ensure that when the space is empty, the lights are off.

Beyond energy savings, you’ll add security and convenience. Choosing occupancy sensors for warehouse spaces means no one will walk into a dark space or worry about turning the lights off when they leave. More technologically advanced versions are great for offices and some will even adapt to ambient light from windows. Some fixtures can be ordered from the factory with the occupancy sensors already installed.

Conventional wisdom about increased on/off switching of fluorescent fixtures is that the wear and tear on the lamps negates any energy savings. A carefully designed study by the Electric Power Research Institute found this was not the case, particularly in settings where lights typically were turned on as a default for the duration of the business day. By not wasting lamp life during unoccupied hours, years can be added to lamp longevity.

Despite the fact that energy savings from occupancy sensors remain their most compelling feature, reducing lamp replacement over time (and the associated decline in maintenance costs) can also provide major savings. Occupancy sensors are a relatively inexpensive component of the entire lighting package, so they make sense for both retrofit and new construction applications.

Introduction to Occupancy Sensors
Energy efficient lighting controls
Dimming ballasts, occupancy sensors can reduce costs