Analysis of daylighting control systems in 20 office and public spaces in Minnesota and Wisconsin shows that while the automatic daylight harvesting schemes are helping to reduce lighting energy in the buildings, most are not achieving optimal performance, according to a new study by the Energy Center of Wisconsin (ECW).
According to ECW, the median daylighting control system studied was saving 23% of lighting energy, including impacts on heating and cooling. This translated to 915 kWh saved for every kW of lighting controlled. But the average effectiveness (the energy saved versus energy saved with ideal control) of the controls was only 51%. This meant that almost half of the potential savings from these controls was not captured due to imperfect controls operation. Even worse, four of the 20 spaces studied had zero savings.
The low level of effectiveness, says ECW, is evidence of a lack of controls execution. The findings show that successful implementation of automatic daylighting control requires a significant commissioning effort to reach full energy-savings potential.
Read the full daylighting commissioning report from the Energy Center of Wisconsin.
As part of the report, ECW developed a tip sheet on commissioning and calibration and function testing of lighting controls. Recommendations include assigning a single person of the construction team to be responsible for verifying completion of all steps in the daylighting commissioning process, and proper training of the building owner/operator on the controls equipment and systems. Download the tip sheet (PDF)
(http://www.ecw.org/project.php?workid=1&resultid=494)
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
Construction Specifications Institute to end support of MasterFormat 95 on December 31, 2009
The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) announced that the organization will cease to license and support MasterFormat 95 as of December 31, 2009. The CSI Board of Directors voted to stop licensing and supporting MasterFormat 95 during its June 16, 2009, meeting at the CSI Annual Convention in Indianapolis.
| Aug 11, 2010
Gensler among eight teams named finalists in 'classroom of the future' design competition
Eight teams were recognized today as finalists of the 2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom. Finalists submitted designs ranging from an outdoor classroom for children in inner-city Chicago, learning spaces for the children of salt pan workers in India, safe spaces for youth in Bogota, Colombia and a bamboo classroom in the Himalayan mountains.
| Aug 11, 2010
F&S Partners merges with SmithGroup
F&S Partners, a Dallas architecture firm specializing in the design of educational, recreational, and religious projects, has merged with SmithGroup, a top 10 U.S. architecture/engineering firm. The 40-person office in Dallas will carry the name SmithGroup/F&S.
| Aug 11, 2010
Will Alsop to head up new RMJM studio
Will Alsop, the internationally acclaimed British architect and designer of the Glenwood Waterfront project on the Hudson River, is to turn his attention once again to the U.S. after announcing he is to create a studio called “Will Alsop at RMJM,” as part of the RMJM worldwide architectural firm.
| Aug 11, 2010
AECOM, WATG top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 75 largest hotel design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 Hotel Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Dewberry among nation's largest multifamily design firms, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 75 Multifamily Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit /giants