With lighting accounting for around 20 per cent of a commercial building’s energy consumption, the specification of an effective lighting system can save energy and cut costs, says Ayhan Siriner, general manager of Feilo Sylvania Middle East.

He says utilising LED technology can deliver energy savings of around 50 per cent compared to conventional lighting technologies, and these savings can be further boosted by installing a lighting control system as well.

And while in the past, lighting controls have often been difficult to install, requiring new cabling or complicated programming with limited flexibility in space changes, new intelligent and de-centralised lighting control systems provide just the solution.

The lighting controls in such systems are placed inside the luminaire at the point of manufacture and utilise wireless controls to not only control the lighting but also auto-commission themselves and provide an unparalleled controls experience without the need for extra cables or extensive programming. It’s simply plug and play. 

Siriner says Feilo Sylvania is leading the market in decentralised intelligent controls with its SylSmart enabled luminaires, which can help save 68 per cent in energy usage compared to a non-controlled lighting system.

The systems not only represent significant on-site savings, but also allow for a much smoother specification, design, installation and commissioning process. In addition, they have the capability to adjust to changing surroundings, such as reconfiguring an office space with new partitioning, without any further programming.

Siriner ... focus on saving energy.

Furthermore, the sensors are built into every luminaire, offering a unique opportunity to extract data from each sensor to understand building operation and movement patterns of occupants, he says.

“This data can then be collected on a secure cloud-based platform and using a web-based browser, energy managers can gain insights into the actual usage of a building. The data can also be turned into meaningful information empowering users to make further cost efficiencies on consumption but then extend this beyond lighting to affect other systems to reduce energy and costs in other areas.”

The constant stream of data allows energy managers to keep pace with the latest regulations and targets set by government. For instance, effective lighting control can help companies meet their ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme) obligations as each luminaire is capable of recording their actual energy use, giving more precise facts on costs, and allows energy managers to identify exactly how much that business can save in energy. 

The benefits of inbuilt sensors are also highlighted when it comes to maintenance and diagnostics. They provide an alert to a problem so, for example, if a luminaires fails, it will indicate why and where in real time.

“With access to real-time data on the occupancy of the office, building owners and energy managers can utilise every square metre of space as efficiently as possible and also open and close entire floor areas where no presence is detected. 

New York University Abu Dhabi ... a Feilo Sylvania project.

“According to AWA Research, this could equate to a 40 per cent reduction in floor space and thus not only reduce lighting-related energy use in that space but also that of any other service in that area which could help reduce total energy consumption of the building by up to 40 per cent compared to 10 per cent by only installing the most energy-efficient lighting. The same data can be used effectively to affect ancillary service costs such as cleaning and security. With no need to clean unused areas and less need for a security guard to patrol buildings, McKenzie research reports that savings of between 20 per cent and 50 per cent could be achieved,” he states.

Feilo Sylvania has now made it even easier for clients to install its smart lighting systems through its Logic financing.

“Logic is designed to help clients upgrade their lighting system without requiring the upfront capital investment. Through competitive financing, costs are broken down into manageable monthly payments. Upon request, Feilo Sylvania will conduct an energy audit to create a design for a new system. The package then covers the supply, installation and commissioning of the new energy-efficient lighting systems as well as offering a maintenance programme,” says Siriner.

Feilo Sylvania is a leading, full-spectrum provider of professional and architectural lighting solutions. Its versatile solutions are suitable for a range of applications including offices, education and government, logistics and industry, museums and galleries, retail, hospitality and residential.

Feilo Sylvania is 80 per cent owned by Shanghai Feilo Acoustics, a lighting equipment manufacturer. It owns renowned brands, namely Sylvania, a leading manufacturer of artificial light sources; Concord, a respected European brand for retail and museum lighting; Lumiance from Netherlands that offers products for interior and exterior applications; and Ya Brand (Yaming), which develops energy-saving products such as LED lamps and fixtures.