Even though in essence there has been a multiplicity of factors which has contributed to the growth and subsequent popularity of smart lighting; the efficiency of this new technology has been the main driver of the positive buzz around it. To fully appreciate how efficient smart lighting has proved to be, especially in the commercial sector; it is important to check on some facts and figures and put everything into perspective.
Studies carried out by the New Buildings Institute based in the US found out that in commercial buildings, lightings normally account for 38% of electricity consumption and 20% of the total energy used. By implementing smart lighting, the energy consumption can be reduced by a whopping 80%. Some specific case studies have even come with more savings; in California a study commissioned by PG&E at a 44,800 square foot hardware distribution center, found that an intelligent LED light used 93% less energy than traditional metal halide lights. Creed Monarch, a leading producer of precision-machined alloy products based in Connecticut did report a 75% reduction in lighting energy bills once they started using smart lighting technology in their manufacturing plant. The use of LEDs in distribution centers is a real game changer in the industry as it is bound to greatly reduce the cost of doing business to most of these companies. With competition being quite intense, such key advantages are bound to be used by companies to reduce the prices of products to the end users.
Currently, there are plans to have commercial buildings with intelligent lights which can be automatically dimmed in specific spaces depending on the traffic or activity levels. Such lights will also have their brightness adjusted according to the ambient lighting allowing individuals to fully utilize the brightness or hue of their workstations; this is bound to improve productivity and overall efficiency in terms of energy consumption and employee satisfaction.
Because of these obvious savings in maintenance and energy costs, cities and municipalities have not been left behind in this shift. Cities such as San Diego, Washington, Sequim, Las Cruces, New Mexico and many others have moved to LED technology to light their streets. Apart from being cheaper, they also tend to be less hazardous as they have little if any harsh by-products worth mentioning.
Further to the above, intelligent street lights can be used to monitor traffic, parking space, seismic activity, pollution, weather conditions and even act as a security system. The lights can then be linked to a network and monitored accordingly. This implies that apart from being efficient in using energy; they are also efficient in that they can be used for multiple purposes simultaneously. With lighting known to cost municipalities almost a third of their energy costs, the financial savings are quite huge even to the casual observer. On this front, the future is here with us.