Turn off the Lights

Turn on the Savings with Con Edison’s Energy Savings Programs.

by Courtney C. Capshaw, Lockheed Martin
Member of the Con Edison Green Team
Did you know lighting consumes up to 40% of a commercial facility’s electricity? The heat output from lights also impacts cooling loads. The following four options can help reduce lighting costs.

Turn Off the Lights
This sounds very basic but “turning off the lights” is an easy, energy-saving practice that can produce substantial cost savings benefits. And remember; switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) will save about 75 percent of your lighting costs, and even more when you remember to turn them off.

Use Occupancy Sensors
Occupancy Sensors are an effective method of reducing lighting costs in almost every space where people move in and out in unpredictable patterns (e.g. offices, restrooms, warehouses and conference rooms). In fact, a study conducted by the Lighting Research Center, “An Analysis of the Energy and Cost Savings Potential of Occupancy Sensors for Commercial Lighting,” showed a 43% energy savings when occupancy sensors were installed in private offices.

Con Edison provides a $50 rebate per installed sensor (minimum 100 watts controlled).

Take Advantage of Natural Daylight
The concept of “Daylight Harvesting” is simple: when sufficient daylight is available, an easy to install daylight sensor will automatically dim or turn off the lights. A daylight sensor will continually monitor the lighting level and make adjustments to the electric lighting based on a pre-set target. Not only can you save energy by dimming or turning lights off, studies such as the U.S. Department of Energy Greening the Building and the Bottom Line: Increasing Productivity Through Energy-Efficient Design show increased productivity when employees have access to natural daylight or views outside.

Earn $60 per sensor (minimum 75 watts controlled) from Con Edison when you install remote mounted daylight dimming controls, or $30 per sensor (minimum 45 watts controlled) for fixture-mounted daylight dimming controls.

Integrate Lighting Control into Your Facility

Lighting control panels can be installed next to a building’s electrical panel or near the lighting load the panel is controlling. The lighting control panel controls a group of light fixtures by sending a signal to turn the lights on/off at pre-programmed times. You can program the panels remotely or have the factory program them prior to shipment. Another benefit to using control panels is that they can be used in conjunction with the “daylight harvesting” and occupancy sensor techniques outlined above. Lighting control panels are easily adaptable into existing facilities and can provide you with automated lighting controls for a minimal cost while providing substantial energy savings.
Many lighting control projects qualify for incentives under the Custom Incentive Program. An energy assessment is needed to fully provide the right course of action.

Con Edison offers cash rebates and incentives for the installation of lighting and lighting control upgrades to commercial and industrial customers in New York City and Westchester County through our Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Energy Efficiency Programs. To learn more about Con Edison’s C&I Energy Efficiency Program, visit conEd.com/energysavings or call an energy efficiency representative at 1-877-797-6347.