Light the Building When the Building Needs It.
Efficient fixtures can reduce the amount of energy a lighting system requires. Controls can improve when, where, and how that lighting operates.
evoltLEDS evaluates occupancy patterns, operating schedules, daylight, existing controls, space usage, and project objectives to determine where a smarter lighting strategy may create additional value.
Efficient Lighting Can Still Waste Energy.
Replacing outdated lighting can reduce connected load, but efficiency alone does not determine how much energy a building actually uses.
A highly efficient fixture operating in an empty space is still consuming energy.
A parking area operating at full output when conditions do not require it may be using more energy than necessary.
An office with abundant daylight may not need the same lighting output throughout the entire day.
Lighting controls add another question to the modernization decision:
Occupancy
Different spaces experience different patterns of use. Controls can help lighting respond when appropriate to whether spaces are occupied.
Scheduling
Lighting operation can be coordinated with predictable building schedules instead of relying entirely on manual switching.
Daylight
Areas receiving meaningful natural light may present opportunities to adjust electric lighting when conditions allow.
Light Levels
Certain applications may benefit from adjusting output rather than operating only at full output or completely off.
Zones
Dividing spaces into appropriate control zones can allow different parts of the building to operate according to their actual requirements.
Controls Should Follow the Building's Behavior.
A control strategy should not begin with a catalog of sensors.
It should begin with understanding how the space operates.
A private office, warehouse aisle, parking garage, conference room, exterior walkway, and 24 hour facility do not behave the same way. Their control strategies should not be identical either.
Before recommending a controls approach, evoltLEDS can evaluate occupancy patterns, operating hours, daylight conditions, existing controls, space function, existing lighting, operational requirements, and project economics.
Different Spaces Call for Different Responses.
Occupancy and Vacancy Control
Sensors can help lighting respond to whether certain spaces are being used.
Potential applications may include private offices, conference rooms, restrooms, storage areas, break rooms, warehouse zones, and other intermittently occupied spaces.
Scheduling
Lighting can operate according to defined schedules where building use follows predictable patterns.
Potential applications may include offices, exterior lighting, common areas, retail environments, and other scheduled operations.
Daylight Response
Where meaningful daylight is available, compatible lighting systems may be able to reduce electric lighting output as natural light increases.
Potential applications may include perimeter offices, atriums, lobbies, and other daylight accessible areas.
Dimming
Compatible fixtures and controls can allow lighting output to be adjusted according to application requirements rather than operating continuously at maximum output.
Zoning
Large spaces can sometimes be divided into logical lighting zones so individual areas respond to their own use patterns.
Exterior and Astronomical Scheduling
Exterior lighting can be coordinated with time, sunrise, sunset, and operational requirements where appropriate.
Networked Lighting Controls
For suitable projects, connected control systems can provide more centralized configuration, scheduling, zoning, and system visibility.
Smart Doesn't Have to Mean Complicated.
A more intelligent lighting strategy does not automatically require a complex building automation project.
In some properties, the right answer may be relatively simple.
A sensor. A schedule. A better control zone. A daylight responsive area. An appropriate dimming strategy.
In other properties, a more connected controls platform may make sense.
The sophistication of the solution should reflect the needs of the building.
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Simple
Standalone occupancy or vacancy controls, timers, scheduling, and localized control.
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Coordinated
Multiple zones and control strategies designed around how different areas operate.
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Connected
Networked lighting controls that can provide centralized configuration and greater system visibility where the project justifies it.
The Best Time to Think About Controls Is Before the Lighting Project Is Finished.
Lighting modernization and controls are closely connected.
Waiting until after equipment has been selected or installed can limit options, introduce compatibility issues, or create unnecessary additional work.
Evaluating controls during modernization allows the project team to consider fixture compatibility, dimming capability, sensor integration, control zones, wiring and infrastructure, programming, and future flexibility.
Look for the Hours the Building Doesn't Need Full Output.
Offices
Conference rooms, private offices, break rooms, restrooms, perimeter spaces, and areas with variable occupancy.
Warehouses
Aisles, storage areas, staging zones, and spaces where occupancy changes throughout the operating day.
Parking Garages
Areas with extended operating hours where appropriate zoning, sensing, or output strategies may be evaluated.
Exterior Areas
Parking lots, walkways, building perimeters, loading areas, and other spaces where schedules and environmental conditions affect operation.
Multifamily
Garages, corridors, stairwells, amenity areas, utility spaces, and other common areas.
Retail
Back of house spaces, storage areas, offices, common areas, and other environments with varying schedules and occupancy.
Medical & Healthcare
Selected spaces where controls can be considered without interfering with operational, patient, staff, safety, or clinical requirements.
Controls Should Earn Their Place in the Project.
Adding technology increases project cost and complexity.
That means controls should not be recommended simply because they are available.
The potential value of a control strategy depends on existing operating hours, vacancy, existing wattage, proposed wattage, control behavior, project cost, and operational value.
A Smart System Still Has to Work for the People Running the Property.
Technology that only the installer understands is not a successful outcome.
Property teams need to know what was installed, how the system is intended to operate, and what to do when normal changes are required.
Depending on the project, implementation planning may include control intent, scheduling, overrides, configuration, documentation, handoff, and consideration for future changes.
Controls Can Tell Us Something About the Building.
Some modern control platforms can provide information beyond basic switching.
Depending on the selected technology, system capabilities may include visibility into schedules, device status, control behavior, occupancy patterns, or other lighting related information.
That information can potentially help property teams understand how spaces operate and where future adjustments may deserve attention.
For evoltLEDS, this represents an important principle:
A Better Control Strategy Can Scale Beyond One Property.
Property management companies often operate buildings with similar spaces, schedules, fixture types, or operating challenges.
Once an effective strategy is established at one property, the lessons can help inform evaluation of additional buildings.
That does not mean copying the exact system everywhere.
It means understanding what worked, where it created value, which spaces benefited, what implementation required, what should change next time, and which properties may present similar opportunities.
A Control Strategy Built Around the Property.
Depending on project scope, an evoltLEDS controls engagement may include:
Existing Controls Review
Identification of relevant installed controls and current operating behavior.
Space Usage Review
Evaluation of occupancy, schedules, daylight, and functional requirements.
Controls Strategy
Recommended approaches for applicable areas.
Compatibility Review
Consideration of proposed lighting, existing infrastructure, and control requirements.
Financial Considerations
Evaluation of relevant project costs and potential energy impact where appropriate.
Implementation Planning
Zones, equipment, scheduling, access, configuration, and coordination considerations.
Documentation
Applicable equipment and control information for the property team.
Performance Review
Review of system operation and identification of potential adjustments or future opportunities where appropriate.
Questions Property Teams Ask
Do we need lighting controls if we're already installing LEDs?
Not necessarily, but modernization is an appropriate time to evaluate them. The potential value depends on operating hours, occupancy patterns, existing controls, proposed equipment, space usage, and project economics.
Does every room need an occupancy sensor?
No. Controls should be selected according to how each space operates. Some spaces may benefit from occupancy sensing while others may require scheduling, dimming, manual control, continuous operation, or no additional control.
Will controls make the system complicated?
They should not. The appropriate strategy should balance capability with usability. More sophisticated technology only makes sense when the building and project justify it.
Can controls work with our existing lighting?
Possibly. Compatibility depends on the existing fixtures, drivers, wiring, control technology, and desired functionality. These conditions should be evaluated before a recommendation is made.
Can lighting controls reduce energy use?
They can in appropriate applications by reducing operating time or lighting output when full illumination is unnecessary. Actual results depend on the building and how the controls operate.
Do controls connect to our building automation system?
Some commercial lighting control technologies can integrate with other building systems, but compatibility and integration requirements vary. Any proposed integration should be evaluated specifically for the property and selected technologies.
Can we start with one area?
Yes. A targeted area may sometimes be an appropriate way to evaluate a control strategy before considering broader implementation.
What happens if our building schedule changes?
That depends on the selected control system. Some systems provide configurable schedules and operating parameters. The ability to make changes should be considered during product selection and system design.
Your Lighting Already Has a Schedule. The Question Is Whether It's the Right One.
If lighting operates longer than spaces are occupied, controls are outdated, schedules have changed, or you're planning a lighting modernization project, it may be worth evaluating how the system actually operates. Tell us about the property. We'll help determine whether lighting controls deserve a place in the modernization strategy.
Commercial properties • Property portfolios • Metro Atlanta