With rising energy costs putting consumption and efficiency firmly on the FM agenda, a recent detailed study focused on challenges in the workplace. Click for more information
Commercial buildings consume about a third of all electricity produced in the U.S., and lighting is responsible for approximately 40 percent of that, the researchers say. Efficient controls proven to save up to 45 percent in electricity consumption are available, but in practice, these systems are poorly received and greatly under-used, resulting in a missed opportunity for significant energy savings, they add.
Trials looking at the needs of both facility managers and building occupants found that lights can be dimmed by up to 30 percent before most people notice. The key factor is to carry out the dimming process slowly.
The institute suggests that lighting control systems should be tailored to achieve this.
