Upgrading lighting systems is an easy way to save energy. As lighting accounts for up to 40% of energy costs in commercial buildings, significant financial savings can be made. Lighting levels are designed for maintained illuminance which ensures that the average lighting level will at no time fall below that recommended by Australian Standard 1680. Without reducing performance and visual satisfaction, significant savings in energy consumption and capital costs can be achieved by applying an effective design and operating approach to a lighting system. There are a number of benefits: better quality lighting can increase staff performance and morale air conditioning energy costs can be reduced as more efficient lamps emit less waste heat maintenance costs are reduced because longer life lamps need replacing less frequently.

Upgrade lighting and save 40–80% of your lighting energy costs.

Taking Action Is energy on lighting being wasted? To calculate how much energy is being used per square metre (m2) you should: Determine which technologies are currently being used. For safety reasons, you should not attempt to touch lamps or fittings. A visual inspection at ground level is sufficient to determine if each fitting has one or two tubes (referred to as lamps). Most commercial buildings have fittings which contain two fluorescent lamps. Technology Table 1 sets out details of energy use and energy efficient options. Measure or 'pace out' an area of your office. Count the lamps in the measured area and, using the energy use information in Technology Table 1 , calculate the total energy consumption. If the lights in your office have two standard fluorescent lamps, consider changing to a single triphosphor T8 lamp and specular (‘mirror type’) reflector. It is important to ensure that the light levels required by Australian Standard AS1680.2.0 are maintained. Combine energy efficient lamps with electronic ballasts to gain added savings. Install a reduced voltage system. Note: Reduction Voltage Units (VRU) will only benefit if fitted to magnetic ballast systems, not to lamps with electronic ballasts. Install a lighting control system to ensure lights are turned off when not required.

For example: To calculate the energy being used in a small 78 m2 office which has 20 standard fittings with two standard fluorescent lamps, the calculation is: 20 x 2 x 36 Watts = 1440 Watts. To find out how much energy per m2 the calculation is: 1440 W / 78 m2 = 18 Watts per m2. As a guide, above 11 Watts per m2 is energy inefficient and below 8 Watts per m2 is considered ideal. An upgrade (in the above scenario) that retained light levels but removed one lamp from each fitting would reduce energy use to 9 Watts per m2. Can improvements be made? Using Technology Table 1, determine the potential energy savings that can be achieved by using improved lighting technologies to reduce the Watts used per m2. Technology Table 2 outlines automatic lighting control devices that can be installed to control existing lights and which should be incorporated into any new lighting system. These can deliver additional savings. Use the Lighting Calculator to evaluate the potential energy savings by upgrading to a more energy efficient lighting system. Consult the Energy Smart Allies website (www.energysmartallies.com) or the Energy Smart Directory website (www.energysmartdirectory.com) to contact lighting specialists for advice on options and quotations on an appropriate lighting system for your situation. In addition to cost details, you should request that they provide you with estimates of both the energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions of the proposed system. Establish operation, maintenance, and disposal practices. For example, scheduled group relamping and fixture cleaning (as recommended in Australian Standard 1680.1) can save up to 20% of the cost of "spot relamping." Note: If you're unsure about potential improvements, do a trial in one office or on a single floor to ensure the system provides what you need in terms of lighting requirements and energy efficiency.