Digital Energy Networks: A Post Occupancy Evaluation and Appraisal of an Intelligent Low Energy Lighting System

The reduction in the electrical power requirements of LED lighting and the coinciding advancements in digital technology have now enabled luminaires to be powered and controlled exclusively over safety extra low voltage (SELV) wiring systems. The implementation of LED luminaires powered via a centralised 48 Volt DC low-latency communication network, with the capability to gather real-time data, has provided the potential to yield considerable electrical energy savings within a building. This paper will present an appraisal of this technology and will examine the technologies potential to make electrical energy savings, improve the quality of lighting and achieve cost savings on an electrical distribution system within a building environment. The intelligent low voltage lighting system was tested in a controlled environment and the energy reduction methods employed in an existing installation over one year provided a further reduction in energy consumption compared to the system's original settings. Furthermore, the ability of the system to enhance the buildings intelligence, in terms of monitoring space utilisation, traffic patterns and temperature.