The Lighting Control Innovation Award was created in 2011 as part of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Illumination Awards program, which recognizes professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design. LCA is proud to sponsor the Lighting Control Innovation Award, which recognizes projects that exemplify the effective use of lighting controls in nonresidential applications.
This month, we explore a detailed lighting control solution installed at IMEG Corp.’s new offices in Chicago. Lighting control design by IMEG Corp. Photography by Shane Boyer. Lighting controls by ENCELIUM.
Given the opportunity to construct their own office, the design team put innovation to the test while creating evidence-based design research material. The team pursued several advanced lighting strategies including tunable lighting for circadian support within a dynamic fractal layout. A parallel advance control system was provided to support and enhance these concepts. The team is working with a national laboratory to study the user’s experience and impact of these strategies.
A DALI type-8 protocol working within a central control system provides delicate control of the two-channel color-tuning. While the LPD came in 37% below IECC 2018, the control system was diligently designed to reduce everyday energy use. Programmed drivers optimize each luminaire section’s output, creating a balanced illuminance throughout and decreased energy.
A portion of the overall budget was shifted to support these explorations, but thoughtful adjustments, including utilizing wireless sensors, was still required to meet the bottom line. The team meticulously located the wireless occupancy sensors/zones to meet the IECC 2018 600-square-foot zoning requirements, balance a symmetrical furniture design with the asymmetrical lighting layout, and ensure performance from PIR-only sensors.
The design team thoughtfully worked though programming details, spending numerous hours onsite confirming the sequence of operations to balance code requirements with a perception of safety during after-hours conditions. Likewise, a thorough onsite review of control details was conducted including correcting DALI-created popcorning effect, dimming speed, and override controls to enhance operability. Written and social-media style video content was created to develop institutional knowledge and a more intuitive control system.
Touch screen, tablet, and remote control of the lighting sequences allows the team to modulate the lighting sequences to support the study protocols. Identifying successes and pitfalls of a bleeding-edge control system conceived to enhance lighting innovation is key to providing evidence-based design for the larger design community.
Spectrometer readings provided support to establish each selected CCT through onsite programming adjustments to balance the DALI type-8 drivers protocols.
EML targets for circadian support lighting and the accompanying control settings were identified through circadian lighting software.
Research and educated hypotheses supported the EML schedule; beyond following the sun, a post-lunch pump of EML is being assessed to support future evidence-based design.
Balancing illuminance of the fractal patterned tunable luminaires throughout for optimal employee performance and comfort was enriched DALI type-8 protocols and hands-on programming.
Diligent zoning and sensor placement was critical to meet IECC 2018 while ensuring that after hours no workstation was left in darkness nor perceived insecurity.
Local push-button stations and officewide touch screen control pads each provide employees with intuitive circadian sequence lighting control override abilities.
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