In some organizations, lighting accounts for 70% of total energy consumption. By using lighting smarter, more efficiently and with other techniques, costs and CO2 emissions can be reduced significantly. The following are a few saving tips which can help you to start your energy savings today.
No lighting always saves you money
Investigate in which spaces in your buildings lighting is unnecessarily used. For example because there is enough daylight or there are no people in that space that need light. This lighting can be stopped by simply putting the ligt away or with motion sensors. With motion sensors you can save up to 90% on lighting costs. It has an average payback period of 2 years.
Place your lighting in multiple groups
The overall lighting in buildings is sometimes regulated with only one off and on switch. By placing your lighting in different groups, you can switch on the lights depending on the presence and the needs of your colleagues in different rooms. Additionally, not every room requires the same amount of light during the day.
Reduce lighting costs
The energy consumption for fluorescent lighting is caused by the fluorescent tube and ballast (with old TL called ‘starter’). You are still using old-fashioned fluorescent when you can change the tubes when they are broken, and when the light flashes when switching on the light or at the end of the lifetime of the tubes.
For an immediate reduction of energy costs, replace your old lighting by high-frequency (HF) lighting or LED tubes. HF lighting is characterized by an electronic ballast. The advantage of an electronic ballast is that it consumes much less energy than a mechanical or magnetic starter (about 5 watts instead of 12). HF lights stays on average about 50% longer on service. Moreover, HF lighting is dimmable, which allows you to dim the lights depending on the amount of daylight (daylight-dependent-dimming). This uses even less energy. LED tubes can save another 30% on energy consumption compared to high frequency lighting and can also be applied to your old gear. Ask local lighting experts for more possibilities.
Working together to lower energy costs
By replacing your old bulbs with new TL you can save about 10% on energy costs. With the replacement of your conventional ballast with an electronic motion this adds up to a reduction of energy use of 30%. Lighting experts nearby your company know about the possible lighting techniques and alternatives. They can also give you advice about more efficient functioning of your current lighting. The payback period for certain investments, depending on the type of investment, are within one year. Ask experts for their solutions.