Occupant Responsive Lighting

A Green Proving Ground (GPG) study of occupant responsive lighting technology used in five federal buildings in the Pacific Rim Region showed energy savings over baseline conditions:

  • 27% for spaces illuminated 12 hours a day, five days a week, with regular occupancy patterns,
  • to 63%, for a call center illuminated 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. Payback for the call center was less than 7 years.

View full-size infographic. [PDF - 226 KB]

GPG Findings 002, September 2012. Occupant Responsive Lighting. Opportunity: How much electricity is used for lighting in U.S. commercial buildings? 39% of electricity goes to lighting. 1% of buildings have advanced lighting controls. Technology: How does Occupant Responsive Lighting save energy? Uses 3 control strategies. Occupancy sensing, timer scheduling, and dimming. Measurement and Verification. Where did M and V occur? Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory assessed the use of responsive lighting systems in 5 federal buildings in California. Results: How did Occupant Responsive Lighting perform in M and V? 27%-63% energy savings vary depending on operating hours. Improved satisfaction. Better quality light with less glare within P100 standards. 6 years payback for call centers. Lit 18 hours a day 7 days a week. Deployment: Where does M and V recommend deploying Occupant Responsive Lighting? Long Operating Hours. Buildings with operating hours greater than 14 hours, utility costs greater than $.11 kwh, and variable occupancy patterns. [PDF - 226 KB]


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Last Reviewed: 2021-09-28