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Can smart lighting solutions help businesses meet their energy and sustainability goals?
As businesses increasingly prioritise environmental responsibility, lighting is emerging as a key player in helping to achieve ambitious energy and carbon reduction targets. Smart lighting technology offers numerous advantages - from reducing energy use to enabling precise energy reporting - which can support businesses in their sustainability journeys. Dean Campbell-Smith, Director of Sustainable Innovation at Fagerhult, discusses how implementing smart lighting systems can help companies reach their goals efficiently and sustainably. What sort of energy efficient targets are customers working to? “At a super high level, net zero is certainly a target that we find ourselves talking to customers about more and more, particularly for larger clients who signed up to be net-zero by a certain date and have had their net-zero target endorsed by the science-based targets initiative. “For the Fagerhult Group, we need to account for the GHG emissions from the use of our products as part of our net-zero target. These emissions also need to be accounted for by our customers in their reporting – so it is a common goal – we are in this together. “Customers also need to be aware of Part L of the building regulations, which focuses on the conservation of fuel and power, and sets standards for meeting energy efficiency goals, reducing operational costs, and staying compliant with legal requirements in the UK.” How does smart lighting play into these targets? “From a smart lighting perspective, it’s twofold; one is the lighting control piece. By putting in a sensor and measuring occupancy and daylight, energy consumption can be reduced by something like 35 to 45%, and that's great. But with smart lighting, the light can be controlled autonomously, whilst also connecting with other sensors and systems to share information - we can start to learn how the building is actually being used. “For instance, if a building has different tenants with different ways of working, the lighting control system can be adjusted or optimised based on those tenants’ actual usage. We might find, for instance, that some staff come in at the weekends, walk through the office, all the lights come on, then they sit down in their corner and work. But all those lights might remain on for a period of time, so we look at how can we adjust the settings to take advantage of these kind of occupancy behaviours. Often this is where we can see up to 25% in energy savings. “It's obviously very dependent on the building, but what smart lighting solutions give customers is the ability to make energy savings based on behaviour, and it allows customers to report on their own energy consumption.” Is it mandatory for customers to report on their energy consumption? “It’s not currently mandatory for all businesses, but it’s on the horizon. However, even if it’s not compulsory to report energy consumption yet, it’s important to understand where emissions are coming from, that’s how we effect change. Smart lighting solutions produce reports which allow customers to have this kind of visibility, which is fantastic.” Are there other areas where smart lighting solutions can help reduce emissions? “Absolutely. In offices for instance, occupancy sensors are distributed throughout the space for the lighting control system, and that information can be shared with the heating and ventilation systems, which can then be optimised based on our information. This allows us to come together and potentially create more savings for the building. “Smart lighting will also be a key enabler (likely the key enabler) for transitioning to circular solutions, by providing real-time updates on repair or replacement needs, enabling proactive maintenance planning, and reducing service costs. “Additionally, by tracking luminaire usage, smart lighting allows warranties to be based on actual burn time rather than fixed durations. This not only extends the lifespan of the lighting asset but also supports the reuse of luminaires and or components through more realistic and adaptable warranty terms.” What factors should building owners take into consideration when looking to implement a smart lighting solution? “It’s important to understand the system that they already have, and what their journey is: are they constructing a new building? Are they renovating an existing building? What kind of technology do they need? “The Fagerhult Organic Response system is very compelling for renovation projects because it’s wireless. A light with a mains plug can be taken down, and a new smart light, with a mains plug and wireless technology, starts working from day one. For customers, having a vision for how their building can become more intelligent by sharing data with other systems and therefore saving energy is really exciting. “There are other benefits too of course; people want to work in nice places, and creating an environment with excellent light quality that can be tuned according to individual needs has significant benefits for occupants’ comfort and wellbeing.” Smart lighting: a forward-thinking solution In addition to being an effective tool for reducing energy consumption, smart lighting is a forward-thinking solution that supports sustainable practices, health, and long-term cost savings. By embracing these systems, businesses can meet their energy targets more effectively, prepare for future regulations, and create a positive impact on the environment and their bottom line.
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University of Warwick library adopts smart lighting
The University of Warwick, known for its forward-thinking approach to technology and sustainability, embarked on a project to overhaul the lighting system in its main library building. The library, a six-floor building with a four-storey extension, had been in operation since the 1960s and had undergone various updates and upgrades over the years. Despite these efforts, the lighting system remained inefficient according to modern standards due to increased demand and changes to the area’s usage over the years. As a result, the 24-hour operation building presented significant energy reduction opportunities, which would help to reduce energy costs and associated carbon. Focusing on these reductions would contribute towards meeting the University’s net zero goals, their ‘Reduce, Decarbonise, Smart’ ethos, and their ‘low energy, low maintenance’ principals. Highlighting an opportunity Having worked with the university over a number of years, the initiative began with a collaboration between the university's Estates Department and Fagerhult, represented by Simon Harvard-Ford, Senior Project Manager. Simon H-F Simon explains: “The university was exploring smart connectivity solutions as they wanted to create a more energy-efficient and technologically advanced campus. I introduced them to the Organic Response wireless lighting control system, a technology initially designed for open-plan offices but also ideal for educational environments due to its flexibility and innovative features. “The university was impressed not only by the significant energy (and therefore cost) savings, but also the real-time occupancy data analytics that the Organic Response system offers,” Simon continues, “The lighting sensors in the luminaires detect presence, providing data to inform decisions about space usage and optimisation. This feature was particularly appealing to the university as it aligned with their goal of creating a smart campus.” Paul Holland, Estates Engineer at Warwick University, worked closely with Simon on the project from the outset. Paul comments: “One of the main drivers was to try and save energy across the library, but there was also a need for occupancy profiling and wayfinding through the building. “Being a 1960’s building, the occupancy today is significantly different from what it was designed for initially. There are a lot of study areas now, and the building was originally designed for around fifty people per floor, but these days there could be approximately three hundred people per floor. “There was a good opportunity to link up with Fagerhult because they could provide the data analytics we needed for real-time occupancy profiles and energy usage.” Putting the solution into practice In 2019, Fagerhult proposed a solution for the refurbishment of the first and second floors of the library. The proposal was accepted by the university, and the system was installed in 2021. As with all projects, some challenges presented themselves during the installation, but our experienced team were on hand to keep everything running smoothly. “One of the significant challenges during the implementation was keeping the library functional throughout the refurbishment,” Simon comments, “the work was undertaken in phases, often halving floors to maintain accessibility for students. This required meticulous planning and coordination, particularly for the contractors involved, but we worked closely with Paul Holland, Estates Engineer at the university, who played a pivotal role in championing the project. Paul's forward-thinking approach and willingness to embrace new technologies were crucial in driving the project's success.” Paul added: “An additional benefit of the lighting system was how easy it was to commission and set up. From our point of view, we didn’t have any issues. Simon has been brilliant throughout. It’s been a long-term collaboration, and he has been on the journey with us, helping us to deliver the continued development of the system in order to give the University what it needs.” Energy and cost-saving benefits Once in place, this pilot phase allowed the university to gather three years of data, demonstrating the system's efficacy. “The results of the pilot were impressive,” explains Simon, “The university reported savings in the region of half a million kilowatt-hours of electricity over three years, equating to approximately £150,000 annually for just two floors. With plans to extend the system to the entire building and two storeys of the extension building, the projected energy savings are set to increase significantly.” Additionally, the system's ability to provide real-time occupancy data will be invaluable. The university can now monitor which spaces are in use, when, and how often. This data enables them to make informed decisions about space management, optimising the use of their facilities. A future development is for the system's occupancy monitoring feature to have a user interface which displays a simple traffic light system (green for quiet, red for busy, amber for moderate) highlighted on monitors at the library entrance, with the aim of helping students find available spaces quickly. Paul explains more about the future benefits the system can bring to the campus: “The next steps are to integrate the occupancy profiling data gathered from the lighting system onto a graphic at the entrance of the building, so that when students enter the building, they can see how populated a particular area is and make an informed decision on where they go to study.” Following the success of the pilot phase, the university is now implementing the system across the remaining floors of the main library building and the two-storeys of the extension. The project is expected to be completed by November 2024, resulting in a fully connected smart library lighting system. The University of Warwick's implementation of the Organic Response lighting system in its library is a testament to the benefits of smart technology in creating energy-efficient and user-friendly environments. The project not only resulted in substantial energy savings but also laid the groundwork for future innovations in smart campus development, serving as an inspiring example for other educational institutions looking to innovate and improve their facilities. Paul concludes: “We had a collaboration day at the University of Warwick with other universities involved. We took them around the library to showcase the installations and received positive feedback. I believe the Organic Response wireless lighting control system could be readily applied across many other higher education settings."
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