CHOOSING THE RIGHT LIGHTING FIXTURES

Abstract

Lighting is a fundamental requirement of any facility, affecting people’s daily activities. It accounts for a significant portion of the total energy consumption in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. There have been major improvements and innovations in lighting technologies that can offer significant opportunities for energy savings in many lighting applications, including home lighting, street lighting, hospitality and retail lighting, and office and industrial lighting. The following are some of the energy-efficient lighting techniques or types that are being used as energy-saving options: Relighting with the two most popular energy-saving CFL bulbs: (compact fluorescent lamp) and LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. LED bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and 50 percent less energy than CFLs. Light Sensors: Lights can be controlled using a variety of sensors to ensure that lights operate when needed. These sensors detect human presence, movement, time, or occupancy, and turn lights ON and OFF based on the sensor output. These types of controls include infrared sensors, automatic timers, motion sensors (PIR and ultrasonic sensors), and dimmers.