2004 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings

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2004 ACEEE Informal Sessions Descriptions

Additional Informal Sessions may be organized on-site during the Summer Study. Visit the office in Surf and Sand to sign up for an Informal Session.

Session Synopsis - "The Demand Response Potential of Lighting Control Strategies"

Francis Rubinstein, LBNL
Lisa Heschong, Heschong Mahone Group

Thursday, August 26
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Electric lighting controls represent a promising opportunity for reducing peak loads in commercial buildings, given that they can immediately reduce lighting loads and secondarily reduce cooling loads without increasing occupant complaints or creating a rebound effect. The session will provide a forum to discuss what is currently known about the performance of lighting control strategies relative to demand response needs, and what needs to be done in order to properly set research priorities in this important area.

Lighting control strategies that affect demand include: dispatchable load-shedding systems; site-based response to energy pricing signals; automated daylighting controls; automated occupancy controls; and manual control of local lighting systems. Each strategy can positively affect building load profiles, albeit by somewhat different mechanisms. For example, manually operated bi-level lighting controls allowed a surprisingly large voluntary demand reduction during the 2001 CA power crisis. Automatic daylighting controls might routinely reduce building peak demand and be selectively programmed to preferentially reduce electric lighting use in response to price signals. Occupancy sensors increase the diversity in lighting loads and thus may predictably reduce statewide peak. Technical issues to explore include: the impact of different tariff structures on choice of strategy; the predictability of response; the time dimension of response; best strategies by occupancy type; and how various strategies might create a synergistic infrastructure for implementing cost-effective load reduction.

For more information, contact:

Francis Rubinstein
LBNL
e-mail: FMRubinstein@lbl.gov

or

Lisa Heschong
Heschong Mahone Group
e-mail: lheschong@h-m-g.com

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