General Area Type Case Study:

Government Buildings

A common misconception in federal, state and municipal buildings is that the largest area type, private offices, yield the highest energy savings when the lights are turned off. However, utilizing both lighting controls and sensors in the open spaces of federal, state and municipal 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. An often overlooked application for controls typically provides 10-20% 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, provides 5-10% of the total building’s savings.

Hallways

With long run hours, Lighting upgrades are common. 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 3-5% 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, while insuring lights are on when needed, allow 3-5% of the building’s potentials savings. Additional savings can be obtained by controlling the exhaust fans as well.