Control of wireless-networked lighting in open-plan offices

Abstract

This paper presents an energy-efficient lighting control system for open-plan offices with two novel features: A versatile ‘plug-and-play’ wireless-networked sensing and actuation system, and a control method incorporating multiple management strategies to provide occupant-specific lighting. Workstation-based wireless photosensors are employed to measure task illuminance, and individual addressability of wireless-enabled dimmable luminaires increases the freedom of the lighting system to fulfil various lighting requirements. Daylight harvesting, occupancy control and light level tuning strategies are formulated into an optimisation problem that generates light outputs for each luminaire to produce the desired lighting at each workstation with minimal energy usage. A pilot study of the wireless-networked lighting system implemented in a small open-plan office has shown more than 60% energy savings potential compared to conventional practice without any control.

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