Square D® Powerlink® G3 Intelligent Lighting Control System Better Manages Commercial Building Operating Costs Through Demand Response

A Square D® Powerlink® G3 intelligent lighting control system can be a critical cog in a demand response strategy by dimming or turning off pre-selected lighting loads when necessary, helping commercial building managers better control operating costs. Seamless to retrofit into an existing building and integrate within a building automation system, a Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control system can quickly react to potential load-shed situations, such as market electrical prices reaching a pre-determined ceiling that prompts a shift to backup power sources. A Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control system also can be used to configure and execute a load-shed sequence remotely, increasing convenience for facility managers.

“Managing energy costs in a commercial building is about managing consumption and demand,” said Scott Jordan, Square D Powerlink product marketing manager. “Facility managers use a Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control system to control consumption by shutting off lights when a building isn’t being used. But it’s equally effective at controlling demand. If a demand response situation arises, such as an electrical price ceiling or utility peak demand, Square D Powerlink products allow a commercial building owner to respond by altering lighting loads or switching to a generator or alternate energy source, like solar or wind power.”

Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control panelboards contain a schedule-based controller that can be configured to include a load-shed lighting sequence that activates based on a command from the building automation system, facility manager or even directly from the utility. Both Square D Powerlink G3 2000 Level network-enabled and 3000 Level web-enabled controllers can be remotely configured with a load-shed sequence by Schneider Electric, saving a facility manager time.

Both Square D Powerlink G3 2000 and 3000 Level controllers support open data communications protocols like Modbus® and Building Automation and Control network (BACnet), so implementing a demand response strategy takes less time due to simplified integration. Additionally, retrofitting an existing building is easy because Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control panelboards are an exact fit for other Square D lighting panelboards.

“Whether demand response is a formal program offered by the local utility or a strategy that a commercial building owner or manager wants to implement, a Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control system can help better predict operating costs,” Jordan said. “If electrical costs increase throughout the year, or faster than projected, activating a pre-configured load-shed sequence can reduce those costs and preserve budget. In some cases, the local utility might anticipate higher-than-expected market electrical prices and may make an offer to buy back a facility’s electric demand.”

For more information about Square D Powerlink G3, visit www.squaredlightingcontrol.com.