DELTA Study Evaluates Residential Sensors

Sept 19, 2019

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) recently published a new DELTA report evaluating new sensor-controlled LED corridor lighting installed in a multifamily residential building in Albany, New York. The project showed significant energy savings while overall occupant response was positive.

Corridor lighting is an example of maximizing energy cost savings by dimming LED lighting in unoccupied spaces where lighting must remain ON for safety and security. This is achieved by either incorporating an occupancy sensor into each luminaire or wirelessly connecting multiple luminaires.

Part of a complex of high-rise apartments built in the 1960s, Lincoln Square Two underwent an upgrade of 60 corridor luminaires on six floors. The LRC collaborated with the Albany Housing Authority and Taitem Engineering to replace the linear surface-mounted T8 fluorescent luminaires with LED luminaires (Lamar Lighting) on a one-for-one basis.

When corridors are occupied, the luminaires operate at full output; when their integral sensors detect vacancy, the luminaires dim to 20 percent of full output, with a resulting light level complying with the life/safety code. The sensor-controlled luminaires were set at a time delay of five, 10, or 15 minutes.

Before/after the upgrade, full-output light levels increased from 10 to about 30 footcandles (fc) at floor level, while the researchers estimated 33 percent energy savings for the LED upgrade alone and 73 percent when combined with sensors with a five-minute time delay, more than doubling energy savings.

At the five-minute setting, the bilevel LED lighting operated at full output an average 22 percent of the time. This produced an estimated payback of about five years, assuming the integrated sensor and dimming driver added about $100 to the luminaire cost.

Monitoring at 14 other below market rate apartment buildings showed similar results: bilevel lighting can be expected to operate at low output 75-80 percent of the time, on average. At market rate apartment buildings, bilevel lighting can be expected to operate at low output approximately 90 percent of the time.

Because corridors are public spaces, occupant satisfaction and perception of brightness are important. The LRC issued a questionnaire to occupants. Overall, dimming to 20 percent light output with a five-minute time delay was not objectionable. Satisfaction that light levels were “just right” increased from 74 to 89 percent, and 78 percent expressed satisfaction with the control effect, with one occupant stating, “I like it because it lets you know when someone enters,” and another stating, “I like the way the light dims down, couldn’t ask for more.” Additionally, 78 percent stated the lighting in their corridors was better compared to other multifamily corridors, compared to 42 percent before the upgrade.

“Saving lighting energy in multi-family corridors is becoming more feasible,” says DELTA Program Director Jennifer Brons, who authored the report. “LED luminaires can easily dim light output when corridors are vacant, rather than turning off entirely. Most importantly, the occupants had positive comments about safety and comfort with sensor-controlled, bi-level lighting.”

The LRC report concluded with some guidance for upgrading multifamily building corridor lighting, based on lessons learned from the project:

Replace existing luminaires with sensor-controlled dimmable luminaires. PIR sensors may be appropriate. Consider ultrasonic if corridors turn and block line of sight. The sensors may be integral to the luminaire or remotely mounted.

Even high-trafficked spaces can be suitable for sensor-controlled lighting. While energy savings will be lower in higher-trafficked spaces such as elevator lobbies compared to corridor extremities, the potential for significant savings remains due to periodic slow-downs, particularly late at night.

Consider short delay times. In this DELTA project, shorter time delays maximized energy savings, while occupants accepted it.

Consider vacancy light output. The LRC found that dimming to 20 percent was not objectionable to occupants, but cautioned about going lower. Talk to the manufacturer about efficacy at lower light output during bilevel dimming. Ensure the dimmed light level satisfies code requirements related to safe egress.

Overall, the DELTA report suggests multifamily corridor lighting is a viable application for upgrading to sensor-controlled LED lighting.

“As energy codes move toward increased adoption of advanced lighting control technologies, these results show how to use sensor-controlled lighting to improve energy efficiency without occupant dissatisfaction,” said Brons.

Download the report here: www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/DELTA/pdf/DELTAMultiFamilyCorridors.pdf.

Craig DiLouie, LC, is Education Director for the Lighting Controls Association. Reprinted with permission of the Lighting Controls Association, www.lightingcontrolsassociation.org

Photo source: LEDVANCE