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Advanced Lighting Control Technologies for User Satisfaction and Energy Efficiency
Teijo Viljanen
Oy Helvar
Liisa Halonen
Helsinki University of Technology
Jorma Lehtovaara
Helsinki University of Technology
Abstract
In the past various lighting control strategies have been used to save energy in lighting. Individual manual switching, light sensor based ?constant light systems?, daylight linked switching, time based switching or dimming and occupancy detector base switching can all reduce the energy consumption of a lighting installation. In reality many of these systems have got negative feedback from the end users.
Initial studies gave large variations in user preferences with regards to the overall lighting scene in office work. Similar findings were also published by other research teams. It was quite clear that the idea of ?constant light? at work did not correlate with what the users wanted. Unexpected switching has also reportedly a negative effect on user satisfaction. These studies show that the visual requirements of human beings are a much more complex issue than what is covered by present lighting requirements. From a visual point of view it can also be argued that the present lighting solutions are using unnecessary high levels of energy. These studies have resulted in some basic ideas about new control parameters and algorithms for lighting control systems.
There are two main types of energy saving lighting control systems on the market. One system is a combination of luminaire with direct light level feed back of the space. The other is a system based on outdoor light sensors, space profiles and user input from which the system calculates the light levels of luminaires.
Theses studies are leaning in a direction of the use of adaptive system technologies and new sensing elements to generate the relevant control parameters. It is also shown, that to have the highest light control, it is necessary to use multi sensor and multi channel systems in almost every case.
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