Now that Network Lighting Controls (NLCs) are becoming simpler and more affordable, they are gaining popularity with building owners and facility managers primarily as an effective way to reduce energy and maintenance costs. Recently, new data has come to light that identifies significant benefits that go well beyond simple energy savings. The U.S. Department of Energy’s non-profit subsidiary, the Designlights Consortium (DLC), published a white paper titled “Evaluating the Non-Energy Benefits of Advanced Network Lighting Controls” in January 2023. The paper highlights some remarkable findings attributed to Non-Energy Benefits (NEBs) that were previously viewed as intangible. In this blog post, we will explore three of the NEBs of NLCs, and it is my hope that all the acronyms do not trip you up!
- High Return on Investment for Building Owners and Facility Managers
One of the most significant NEBs of NLCs is the high return on investment. According to the white paper, the net value of NEBs + Energy Savings provided a return on investment (ROI) 2.3 times the energy savings benefit alone. Implementing NLCs allowed building owners and facility managers to extend the life of lighting equipment, improve the look and ambiance of the space, added control over energy use and reduced maintenance and associated labor costs.
- Time Savings for Building Operators
Implementing NLCs provides significant time savings for building operators. As stated by the white paper, building operators save approximately 11% of a full-time staff member’s time by using network lighting controls. The NEBs of adding NLCs included improved building safety and security, increased productivity, and quality of lighting in the space.
- Increased Occupant Productivity
Another benefit of NLCs is the potential to increase occupant productivity. The white paper found that building occupants can expect to be 8% more productive in spaces with optimized lighting conditions. NEBs improved the feeling of safety/security within and outside of the building, improved the quality of light in the workspace, and increased the ability to execute tasks more efficiently and effectively.
In summary, implementing NLCs results in NEBs that provide high ROI, improved building ambiance and quality of light as well as improved safety and security. Add significant improvements to productivity for both operators and occupants and you have a very compelling case.
As technology continues to evolve and NLCs become even more advanced, we can expect to see an increasing number of benefits and use cases. As rebates for NLCs have become available in most jurisdictions, building owners and facility managers would be wise to consider exploring what NLCs can do for their properties.
Contact us today to find out what DLC NLC approved SMART BLU™ and the BLU Ecosystem™ can do for you!
