Energy efficient lighting

Lighting can be an area for large gains in energy efficiency. On investigation, some offices may find they can replace lighting technology with alternatives that use 82 per cent less electricity. Like any business project, the larger your enterprise the more there is to consider and lighting changes need to still ensure appropriate light levels for the tasks undertaken. Typically, an upgrade will involve identification of strategies and technologies and a business case for the upgrade. There are several tailored financing schemes can also help improve the investment returns on lighting. As many tenancies are over-lit, a lighting audit may also identify opportunities to reduce the number of light fittings or make better use of daylight.

Key elements

Daylighting, de-lamping and optimisation

There are a number of strategies to improve lighting energy efficiency that can be implemented alongside a technology upgrade.

Switch-off behaviours

Improving staff switch-off practices for lights applies to meeting rooms and bathrooms as well as at night and over the weekends. The techniques and tips provided for behaviour change all apply to lighting as well as equipment. For lighting in particular, energy managers may need to explain to staff that leaving fluorescent lights on does not save energy compared to switching them off and on more often. Other methods like stickers, signs, and appointing people to switch off at the end of the day can all prevent energy waste.

Contact your local CitySwitch program manager to request your free CitySwitch Switch Off stickers.

Reduce demand for artificial light

Also known as ‘daylighting’ there are a number of techniques for making use of available light rather than artificial. Techniques include choosing light colours for internal surfaces and walls, skylights, shading device control, glare reduction and electrochromic glazing. Giving more access to daylight has also been shown to increase productivity.

Optimise existing lighting systems

As well as switch-off behaviours, there are other ways to get the best use out of existing lights. For example:

Cleaning off dust build-up from lamps, reflectors and diffuser panels.
Installing light switches in individual offices, rearranging lighting circuits to align with work areas or to group lights in daylit areas.
Replacing discharge lights (e.g. ballasted mercury vapour) with lights with a shorter time to switch on after power interruption (compact fluorescent or LED light fittings).
Making use of lighting control systems where they are installed, that can program lights according to time of day, daylight and occupancy.
Creating smaller zones (100m²) so that one switch controls fewer lights.

De-lamping

De-lamping means removing lamps from fittings where the light output exceeds what is required. If the light fitting is inefficient, it can be improved with a reflector. Many fluorescent light fittings hold two tubes so reducing the number of lamps saves up to 50% in lighting energy. De-lamping can result in significant energy savings at very low costs and also reduce air conditioner cooling loads, reduce lamp replacement costs, and decrease circuit loading due to lower electricity demand. There are good de-lamping opportunities in toilets, kitchens, offices, corridors, stairwells, meeting rooms (often over-specified for lighting), copying rooms, waiting rooms, store rooms, and near windows in buildings not used at night.

The steps to undertake de-lamping are:

measure existing illumination levels (using a lux meter and building plan)
compare illumination levels with minimum recommended standards and identify over-illuminated areas
de-lamp appropriate areas.

More detail and data to help diagnose when de-lamping is appropriate are included in the CitySwitch Energy Audit Toolkit set. (See toolkits on Lighting and Controls).

The Commonwealth Government's Energy Efficiency Exchange and the NSW Lighting Technology Report also have user-friendly guides to lighting.

For de-lamping exercises, disposing toxic waste from mercury vapour and fluorescent tubes can be avoided by a number of recycling schemes.

Categories:

Energy efficient lighting

Tags:

delamping audits daylighting switch-off behaviours reduced demand lighting optimisation

Related Resources

CitySwitch Energy Audit Toolkits

This Energy Audit Toolkit set has been developed to assist non-technical or semi-technical energy managers in small to medium organisations identify actions to improve energy efficiency through the use of a simple but detailed audit checklist and develop plans for implementing energy efficiency actions.

LED Lighting article

It could be as easy as LED.

Improvements in technology over the last couple of years make complete LED fitouts a cost-effective solution. This article provides useful information and resources for LED lighting upgrades.

Energy efficiency certification scheme

This certification scheme offered by the Energy Efficiency Council certifies professionals that can lead comprehensive energy retrofits of commercial buildings. Certification helps building owners and managers find professionals they can trust and provides a benchmark for energy efficiency professionals.

Calculite: an online calculator for lighting

The calculite calculator helps businesses make an informed decision about energy efficient lighting for your site. It is an online tool to identify savings, providing upgrade options and generic technical specifications to take to suppliers.

Webinar: cutting through the lighting technology jargon

Working out where to begin with lighting upgrades can quickly become an overwhelming prospect from choosing products to funding and implementation. This free three-part lighting webinar series helps get the most out of your office lighting retrofit.

Quality Scheme for Solid State Lighting (LED)

A a quality scheme for Solid State Lighting (also known as LED). This is a voluntary industry scheme that provides confidence that a luminaire carrying the Scheme’s label matches certain performance claims made by the supplier. Products are listed in a database on the Australian Lighting Council's website.

CBD Lighting Assessment Guidance

A tenancy lighting assessment is an important component of a Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) required under the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Program. The guides and forms required are available here.

FluoroCycle

Lamp recycling can help reduce the amount of mercury being sent to landfill. FluoroCycle is a voluntary product stewardship scheme that seeks to increase the national recycling rate of waste mercury-containing lamps.

Energy Gov Au: lighting technologies

Energy Gov Au provides a range of information and practical advice on energy saving for households and businesses including a rebate sorter for available assistance from Australian, state and territory governments for energy efficiency improvements.

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Case studies

Case Study: Psaros

Psaros is the first mid-tier property developer in Western Australia to operate a carbon neutral head office. The tenancy consumes less than 50 per cent of the energy used by a typical 2.5 star NABERS Energy-rated tenancy and due to their Carbon Neutral certification, they have off set a total of 221 tonnes of CO2-e over two years.

Case study: Exergy

Exergy are the first CitySwitch signatory to achieve a 6 Star NABERS rating without Green Power. Exergy focussed on getting the simple things right, including laptops for staff and greater use of the cloud, zoned lighting and occupancy sensors, and energy monitoring that sends an alert when usage is higher than usual.

Case Study: ACORPP

ACORPP involved staff in selecting a new office and save over a thousand dollars a year in electricity by choosing a space with natural light, providing laptops, and timers on boardroom air conditioning. ACORPP also chose furniture and fitout materials for certified low environmental impact, recycled content and recyclability.

Case Study: WT Sustainability

WTS took the opportunity, when fitting out their new office in North Sydney, to use in-house expertise and knowledge in integrating sustainable design and construction practice and initiatives. They successfully achieved their goal of a 6 Star NABERS Energy tenancy rating and now have an energy consumption level of 78 per cent less than a typical office.

Case Study: Steensen Varming

Steensen Varming used their office move to select a green building with strong credentials and enter into a green lease with their new landlord. Selecting a suitable building, plus an approach that maximized daylight, used zoned air-conditioning and recycled office furniture resulted in savings from day one. Staff were engaged in all stages of the move.

Case study: AMP Capital

AMP Capital's behaviour change competition saw staff across seven floors of their Sydney office battle it out to reduce energy and increase recycling. The 'Floor Wars' campaign resulted in energy savings of 15 per cent and supported the roll-out of lighting upgrades.

Case Study: Goodman Group

Goodman Group have increased staff collaboration, job satisfaction and achieved energy savings of 46 per cent as a result of transitioning to an activity-based workplace. The CitySwitch award-winner cites an innovative staff change management program and technology upgrades as the key to the fitout's success.

Case study: Climate Friendly

Climate Friendly are striving for energy efficiency excellence by applying the simple philosophy of 'measure, offset, reduce and review'. The consultancy is ensuring effective ongoing measurement using technology such as PowerMate and FutureSwich, and has successfully created a switch-off culture at their Sydney office to meet a target 6 star NABERS Energy rating.

Case study: Victorian Dept. of Transport

Long-time Signatory, the Victorian Department of Transport, Planning & Local Infrastructure, has achieved a number of operational gains including a 33 per cent reduction in energy use. With the help of the CitySwitch RMIT student program, resource audits have provided useful insights into staff 'switch-off' behaviour, waste avoidance tactics and office equipment procurement to achieve ongoing environmental and economic savings.

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