these energy savings while improving illumination quality

We installed the WWCWs at the box office. This area is open to daylight on two sides and we have recently needed to reprogram the fixtures for a dimmer setting as the employees complained that they were too bright", explains Herrick.

A well-lit environment creates a more positive shopping experience for customers at retail locations of all sizes. As such, the retail industry in the U.S. spends nearly $20 billion on energy each year according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with lighting as the largest energy drain. The EPA also estimates that a 10% reduction in energy costs for average retail outlets could increase profit margins by 16% annually. An advanced lighting control system can serve as an indispensable tool in accomplishing these energy savings while improving illumination quality.

An advanced lighting control system allows for individual controlling of each lighting fixture or peripheral device in retail spaces from big-box merchandisers to boutiques. All devices are networked and centrally controlled through a central software interface. This allows for addressable dimming or switching of light fixtures independent of electrical circuiting for the purpose of lighting control and energy management.

Once addressable dimming controls are implemented throughout the space, a number of advanced lighting energy management strategies – such as daylight harvesting, load shedding, smart time scheduling, task tuning, occupancy sensing and personal control – can help to optimize energy performance. While some of these strategies have been used independently for some time, the ability of advanced systems to seamlessly integrate and deploy them on a property-wide basis is yielding much greater energy savings.