Saving Some Energy through Dimming Ballasts
Magnetic dimming systems where launched around the year 1970 but they were inefficient, noisy and really cumbersome. On the other hand, the electronic fluorescent dimming ballasts created during the 1980s were costly. Through the kind of system that you are able to get these days, it is able to make energy management and also daylight harvesting so attractive.
Many facilities these days install large window walls as well as skylights with photocells as well as Lutron dimmers to reduce the lamps when there is natural light. With the utilization of a full system that is composed of fluorescent dimming ballasts, T8 lamps and control mechanism, then you can really save a great amount of energy which is quite amazing for you. The savings of energy that you will get can range from 55 to 80 percent.
You'll just need to connect the fluorescent dimming ballasts with the automatic wall switches or the relays if you are going to use them. These can be connected to the occupancy sensors or the photocells and connect them with the energy management system of the building that takes care of controlling the heating, air conditioning and the lighting systems. Aside from the dimming ballasts, the use of daylight harvesting, load scheduling and also load shedding to be able to minimize the energy consumption.
With daylight harvesting, you have to use photocells or light sensors so that you can use more sunlight and reduce the cost of light by dimming. The photocells are the ones that measure the level of light in a particular area to make sure that there is adequate foot-candles available. If the daylight goes below the required level, then the ballast system gets activated for compensating the artificial light. Common harvesting applications are used in large facilities that have window walls and also in institutional and commercial buildings that use skylights. Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_ballast to find out about electrical ballasts.
Load scheduling is used to determine the light level necessary in building spaces to minimize consumption of energy. For instance, when the facility manager is able to see that the conference room is used everyday from 10 AM to 11 AM, the lighting system can be scheduled so that the light gets dimmed during the hours when the room is not used.
On the other hand, load shedding would be used to know the right light levels and minimize energy consumption at the same time. With this, you can reduce the operating costs particularly on the peak hours. Many utility companies are charging high rates on such times. Such kind of system can work with daylight harvesting by the use of natural light and also dimmed lighting. With this, there is shedding of energy. There is a reduction of the energy consumption when the facilities are working based on schedules.
Many facilities these days install large window walls as well as skylights with photocells as well as Lutron dimmers to reduce the lamps when there is natural light. With the utilization of a full system that is composed of fluorescent dimming ballasts, T8 lamps and control mechanism, then you can really save a great amount of energy which is quite amazing for you. The savings of energy that you will get can range from 55 to 80 percent.
You'll just need to connect the fluorescent dimming ballasts with the automatic wall switches or the relays if you are going to use them. These can be connected to the occupancy sensors or the photocells and connect them with the energy management system of the building that takes care of controlling the heating, air conditioning and the lighting systems. Aside from the dimming ballasts, the use of daylight harvesting, load scheduling and also load shedding to be able to minimize the energy consumption.
With daylight harvesting, you have to use photocells or light sensors so that you can use more sunlight and reduce the cost of light by dimming. The photocells are the ones that measure the level of light in a particular area to make sure that there is adequate foot-candles available. If the daylight goes below the required level, then the ballast system gets activated for compensating the artificial light. Common harvesting applications are used in large facilities that have window walls and also in institutional and commercial buildings that use skylights. Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_ballast to find out about electrical ballasts.
Load scheduling is used to determine the light level necessary in building spaces to minimize consumption of energy. For instance, when the facility manager is able to see that the conference room is used everyday from 10 AM to 11 AM, the lighting system can be scheduled so that the light gets dimmed during the hours when the room is not used.
On the other hand, load shedding would be used to know the right light levels and minimize energy consumption at the same time. With this, you can reduce the operating costs particularly on the peak hours. Many utility companies are charging high rates on such times. Such kind of system can work with daylight harvesting by the use of natural light and also dimmed lighting. With this, there is shedding of energy. There is a reduction of the energy consumption when the facilities are working based on schedules.