General Area Type Case Study:

Commercial Buildings

A common misconception in commercial office buildings is that the largest area type, private offices and hallways, yield the highest energy savings when the lights are turned off. Therefore, upgrades are typically only installed in these areas. However, at PES we recognize that utilizing both lighting controls and sensors in the open spaces of commercial office buildings can produce over half of the overall savings. The following chart shows the area types, with both lighting and sensor upgrade savings potential:

Private Office

A common application representing 15-25% of the total building savings. Controls and lighting upgrades provide an improved working environment and convenience.

Open Office Space

Lighting upgrades improve the working environment, however an often overlooked application for controls, yet typically provides at least half of the building potential savings!

Meeting Rooms

An area type with fluctuating usage and often unoccupied with the lights left On. Popular application for Controls and Lighting providing 3-6% of the total building’s savings.

Hallways

With long run hours, Lighting upgrades are common. However, this is an ideal application for Controls providing, 15-20% of the building’s potential savings! Sensors add convenience and an element of security.

Storage

The infrequent use makes this an ideal application for Controls, providing 2-4% of the buildings potential savings. A common retrofit of Incandescent to LED or Fluorescent and keeping the annual usage to a minimum with the sensors, means these lights will almost never need maintenance.

Restrooms

Sometimes a difficult application due to the partitioned stalls. Properly applied Microphonic technology sensors, however, resolve this issue, allowing for 3-5% of the building’s potentials savings. Additional savings can be obtained by controlling the exhaust fans as well.