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Lighting Loads Losing Power in the Demand Response World

May 11, 2018
Although HVAC is more aligned with DR needs because it is climate driven, lighting can still be a contributor to DR programs.

In past years, traditional load shedding programs managed by electric utilities targeted lighting as a key contributor of their overall reduction strategies. But as noted in a speaker session delivered by Scott Zeigenfus and Don Barus of Hubbell Lighting at Lightfair International yesterday afternoon, “Lighting’s Influence on Demand Response (DR) and Demand Management in the LED and Controls Era,” the industry’s success over the past 10 years on the lighting consumption reduction front has significantly minimized lighting’s role as a Demand Response (DR) contributor, as compared to HVAC. Although the presentation was geared to the facility management professional, it still offered some valuable insights for the EC&M audience.

After reviewing the basic definitions and differences of DR, Demand Energy Reduction (DER), AutoDR, and Peak Management, the speakers outlined some code requirements on the DR and DER front. California Title 24 Part 6 mandates DR controls for buildings larger than 10,000 sq ft. (excluding spaces with lighting power density levels of 0.5 watts or less). The system must automatically reduce lighting power in response to a DR signal so that the lighting load is lowered by at least 15% below the total installed lighting power level. ASHRAE 189.1 2014 requires automatic systems for demand limiting or load shifting. The system must reduce electric peak demand greater than 10% of the projected peak demand.

The speakers then credited those in the audience with doing a great job of reducing lighting loads in recent years through new light source development (e.g., LEDs) and implementation of controls equipment and systems. They cited recent studies that show the contribution of lighting to electric bills has been reduced by more than 50%. But now that this success has been achieved, what’s next? How does lighting play into the DR world now?

The speakers noted that although HVAC is more aligned with DR needs because it is climate driven, lighting can still be a contributor to DR programs, but in a more “refined” role. They noted lighting’s linear, predictive, and instantaneous nature is the perfect complement to HVAC for DR. It just won’t be the key contributor that it’s been in the past.

About the Author

Michael Eby

Mike received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering in 1986 and an M.S. degree in engineering management in 1994 from the University of South Florida. He is currently a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

Prior to joining EC&M as Editor-in-Chief in September 1999, Mike served as the Executive Editor of Transmission & Distribution World magazine for five years. He currently serves as the Senior Director of Content - Buildings Group in the Infrastructure & Intelligence Division at Informa. Before joining Informa, Mike held various engineering titles within the Substation and Transmission Engineering Groups at Florida Power & Light Co., Juno Beach, FL.

Mike was awarded the Southeastern Electric Exchange (SEE) Excellence in Engineering Award in 1993 and has received numerous regional and national editorial awards for his reporting and writing work in the electrical market.

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