Lighting controls cut energy costs by 20%

Published: August 2011

Ex-Or lighting controls are reducing energy consumption in this warehouse by 20% to achieve a 3-year payback.

Lighting energy costs are being reduced by 20%, representing £30 000 a year, for a 50 000 m2 distribution warehouse in the Midlands with the installation of lighting-control systems from Ex-Or. The payback is three years A high-street retailer took over this warehouse early in 2010, and the lighting system was refurbished by M&E contractor Imtech G&H.

The first stage of the refurbishment involved upgrading from SON discharge lamps to more efficient 80 W fluorescent lamps in blocks of four in high-bay fittings controlled form a high-level busbar.

Part of the warehouse is used as a national distribution centre for seasonal stock. Ian Pattenden, project engineer with Imtech G&H, explains, ‘Because of the seasonal nature of the products and the fact that at certain times of the year there would be very few personnel in that part of the unit it was vital that all unnecessary use of lighting would be automatically eliminated.’

The SON discharge lamps could not be controlled or dimmed effectively and did not suite the high-density racking, which is up to 15 m high. A minimum lighting level of 200 lx was required, with the ability to control high-level lighting. This warehouse is 18 m high.

Ex-Or Hi-Bay LightSpot presence-detecting controls, specially designed to eliminate unnecessary use of lighting in buildings with high ceilings, formed the basis of the lighting-control system. These detectors have a narrow angle of view, even though they are mounted at a great height, so they can control aisle lighting precisely.

Hi-Bay LightSpot control can be programmed from ground level using a hand-held programmer.

The detectors in this warehouse have a dual output so emergency lighting can be tested without the expense of a special, single-function controller or hard wiring. The remote-control hand-held programmer is used for the emergency lighting.

Imtech G&H is now installing Ex-Or lighting-control and management systems for two more phases.

For more information on this story, click here: August 2011, 104