Using occupant interaction with advanced lighting systems to understand opportunities for energy optimization: Control data from a hospital NICU

• Published in: Energy and buildings 2021-11, Vol.251 (C), p.111357, Article 111357
• Main Authors: Safranek, Sarah, Wilkerson, Andrea, Irvin, Lia, Casey, Craig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Building automation system; Control data (computers); Control systems; Energy; Energy conservation; Energy consumption; Lighting; Lighting controls; Lighting systems; Neonates; Optimization; Patient room; Patients; Tunable lighting
• ISSN: 0378-7788; 1872-6178
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111357

•Reporting of novel advanced lighting control data in five NICU patient rooms.•Analysis of how patient room occupants are using a tunable lighting control system.•Use of lighting control data to identify opportunities to reduce facility energy use. Lighting system control data from five patient rooms in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over a 25-week monitoring period were analyzed to better understand how the NICU staff and families interacted with an automatic tunable lighting system (variable spectrum and intensity) with manual override options. The data were analyzed to determine the amount of time spent in available lighting modes, estimate energy consumption, and to observe any patterns in how the lighting system was being used by occupants. Further analysis revealed opportunities for optimizing the system for occupant needs and energy savings. The patient room occupants were clearly engaged in using the lighting system throughout the 24-hour day to meet needs and preferences. Giving occupants control over the lighting system did not result in a considerable increase in energy use. Implementing a time-out would minimize the extended periods of time when the lights were left on without need at the highest brightness level, further decreasing energy use. This analysis reveals the potential of lighting control data to contribute to energy savings.