Switching to smart lighting is one of the most impactful ways for a business to reduce energy costs. Intelligent lighting systems not only use less electricity, but also provide data and automation that allows for even more savings. This guide will explore all the ins and outs of transitioning to smart lighting to save your business money.

What is Smart Lighting?

Smart lighting refers to networked LED light bulbs and fixtures that are digitally connected and can be remotely monitored and controlled. This allows for:

Smart lights are energy efficient on their own, but their connectivity and intelligence enable even more energy savings capabilities.

Key Components and Technologies

A complete smart lighting system generally consists of:

Benefits of Smart Lighting for Businesses

Intelligent lighting offers many advantages that lead to lower electricity bills and better lighting for employees.

1. Automated Lighting Adjustments

Smart lighting systems can automatically adjust light output based on time of day, occupancy, and daylight availability. For example:

This automation ensures lights are only on at the appropriate brightness when needed. Studies show automation alone can create 30-70% lighting energy savings.

2. Advanced Analytics and Reporting

Smart lighting provides data on energy use that identifies savings opportunities:

Sharing lighting analytics with staff can also drive engagement in energy initiatives.

3. Increased Control and Customization

With smart lighting you can tune lighting to perfectly match usage needs:

This custom control reduces waste and creates the right lighting environment.

4. Improved Light Quality

Smart lighting provides higher quality illumination:

This improves the workspace while still saving energy.

Smart Lighting Use Cases

Here are some examples of how businesses can leverage smart lighting capabilities:

Offices

Warehouses

Retail Stores

The options are endless. Smart lighting can be fully customized around how your business operates.

Costs and Return on Investment

Transitioning fully to smart lighting represents a notable upfront investment, but the long term savings generally provide a fast payback:

However, utility incentives like rebates can cut overall costs by 25% or more. The scale of savings also makes the investment worthwhile:

A lighting contractor can provide a custom ROI analysis based on your current lighting and energy costs.

Tips for Choosing a Smart Lighting System

Follow these best practices when evaluating and selecting smart lighting:

With smart lighting, the energy savings will keep adding up for years to come. Follow these tips to choose a high quality system tailored to how your business operates.

Conclusion

The advanced sensing, automation, and data analytics of smart lighting can unlock enormous energy and cost savings for businesses. Intelligent LED systems provide the right light levels at the right times, while minimizing waste and match lighting quality to the task. With utility incentives bringing down initial costs, smart lighting systems pay for themselves in 2-3 years or less in most cases. Consult with a qualified vendor to implement a strategically designed smart lighting system across your facilities.