Best Practices

• Use daylight sensor controls that turn off electric lighting in response to natural light levels to reduce energy consumption. When used in combination with occupant sensors, a sustainable lighting control program can have significant benefits.
• Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs.
• Limit the use of accent lighting to specific artwork, menu boards, and educational items to reduce energy consumption.
• Incorporate daylighting or views to the outside to create an inviting, ascetically pleasing environment as natural light is usually preferred to artificial lighting.
• Use direct-indirect lighting to contribute to an efficient lighting system.
• Use efficient LED lamps as they use less energy, do not give off as much heat as incandescent bulbs, and have a longer useful life.
• Use efficient LED lighting where practical to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs.
• Use controls that dim or turn off electric lighting in response to natural light levels to reduce energy consumption.
• Skylights and roof monitors allow natural light into a space, reducing the need for electric lighting during daytime hours and allowing full-spectrum light inside.
• Incorporate daylighting or views to the outside to create an inviting, ascetically pleasing environment as natural light is usually preferred to artificial lighting.
• Reduce lighting power density in open offices by using an efficient layout of LEDs fixtures, such as direct/indirect fixtures.
• Vacancy sensors are especially effective in well-lit conference rooms.
• Increase spacing of fixtures in corridors to conserve energy.
• Use efficient LED task lighting to reduce energy consumption while providing occupants control of the light levels. Task lighting in general may allow for lower ambient lighting levels.
• Choose moveable task lighting with a magnetic mount or an articulated arm to provide light where it is needed.
• Choose high efficiency LEDs for task lighting.
• Leave overhead light levels low (e.g. 15 foot candles) or off and use task lighting on benches. Make task lighting the primary lighting source, rather than an optional or supplemental source.
• Talk with lab users about turning off task lights when they are not needed. Provide visual cues, such as signs or magnets on or near task lights, to remind users to turn them off.
• Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs. For open areas, sensors must be carefully placed to avoid overlap with neighboring areas.
• Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs. Make sure to use ultrasonic sensors in obstructed rooms such as restrooms.
• Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs. For spaces such as corridors with unpredictable but frequent use, consider controls which turn electric lighting down 50% or more when no occupants are present instead of turning it off entirely.