Use photosensors and dimmers to adjust lighting levels
Photosensors
If a part of your business premises gets a lot of daylight, it may make financial sense to install photosensors.
Photosensors detect the amount of natural light in a room. When daylight is strong, they automatically decrease your artificial lighting levels. This can save you up to 15% on your lighting costs.[1]
You just need to ensure that the lighting you’re using is capable of being gradually dimmed. For more advice, talk to an EcoSmart Electrician or a local electrician with experience in this area.
Dimmers
If you’re upgrading your lighting, you may want to install fixtures that use a dimmer. This will allow you to manually adjust your lighting levels. The lower the light level, the lower your lighting bill will be.
If you can’t afford photosensors, give your employees the ability to manually dim the lighting where they work. When they’re given this ability, one study found that up to 84% of people dim their lighting.[2]
Tyres4U, Keysborough VIC
Tyres4U moved into a new facility that was more energy efficient than their old premises.
Translucent roof sheeting, motion sensors and T5 fluorescent lighting with dimmable ballasts has significantly reduced their energy bills. Even though their new facility is two and a half times bigger, their power bill has been reduced by 40%.
In addition to a smaller electricity bill, there have been other improvements. “The extra bonus for us is that our stocktake has become much more efficient,” explains Jeremy Lane, Branch Manager for Tyres4U.[3]