Optimization of Lighting Systems

Lead Performer: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) — Richland, WA
DOE Total Funding: $3,100,000
Project Term: October 1, 2022 — September 30, 2023
Funding Type: Direct Funding

Project Objective

The primary focus of this work is to optimize advanced lighting and control systems to support energy savings while improving indoor environments for the wellbeing and comfort of building occupants. Further, this work addresses life cycle assessment of lighting and electrical equipment to decrease embodied energy and carbon.

Advanced lighting systems have the potential to deliver much higher application efficiency – the right amount and spectrum to the right place at the right time – compared to current systems. The dynamic nature of occupancy, tasks, daylight availability, and other needs in the built environment requires lighting systems to also be dynamic, necessitating lighting control that exceeds basic controls like automatic timers, occupancy sensors, photosensors, and dimmers. Past estimates of energy savings from basic lighting controls ranged from 24% to 38%. Unfortunately, lighting controls remain an underutilized resource, with some two-thirds of commercial buildings having no lighting controls beyond a light switch. 

To increase deployment of advanced lighting and controls systems, PNNL will conduct the following work:

• Field research on real-world installations of color tunable LED lighting systems analyzing energy and lighting performance, control system operation data, and subjective and objective occupant outcome data.
• Development and deployment of tools to help lighting practitioners and building operators solve lighting control system problems, especially by supporting new industry consensus guidance on control narratives and sequences of operations.
• Implementation of the L-Prize^®, a multi-phase technology prize that challenges the lighting industry to develop breakthrough lighting systems that exceed the performance of currently available commercial lighting equipment.
• Lab and field-based human factors research on lighting quality, perception, and preference in support of higher energy efficiency, improved visual performance, better indoor environments for people, and higher customer acceptance of advanced lighting technology.
• Life cycle assessment of lighting, electrical products, and behind-the-meter-batteries to decrease embodied energy and carbon.
• Stakeholder engagement through small group discussions with expert industry and research professionals on high-priority topics in SSL technology, manufacturing, application, and science.

Project Impact

PNNL’s planned work includes laboratory, simulation, and field research to provide evidence and pathways for improving energy-efficient lighting products and systems, the related standards and design tools, and market transformation actions. These evidence-based improvements will contribute to the achievement of lighting energy savings of 466 TWh in 2035, relative to 2017 levels. PNNL’s research strategy directly supports better control of light in the built environment for energy savings, improved occupant health, productivity, and satisfaction, and development of electrical products with lower embodied energy and carbon.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Wyatt Merrill
Lead Performer: Dr. Michael Royer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)