F E A T U R E

Kate Baker , Connected Lighting Manager at Ansell Lighting

created that can be controlled and automated from one central point .

as possible . Data centre infrastructure management ( DCIM ) has become a powerful tool in helping organisations to do this ; providing operators with a universal set of metrics to monitor and optimise infrastructure whilst also positively impacting the bottom line .

However , despite the advanced DCIM technology utilised within data centre operations , lighting is often overlooked . Senseless when you consider that lighting accounts for at least 5 % of all energy use in a data centre and represents an area where substantial savings can be made . Luminaires are a key asset in a building and building managers should ensure they are investing in efficient , long-lasting lighting solutions that not only lower energy consumption but also support broader sustainability targets .

Smart lighting systems are an ideal option for data centres . Offering more

efficiency , better control and helping to lower operational costs , they have the potential to cut the amount of energy used to light buildings by up to two-thirds . Using wireless technology and protocols such as Wi-Fi , Bluetooth and Zigbee , smart lighting works by seamlessly connecting luminaires , enabling a network of lamps to be

The options and benefits this offers are endless . Every single detail of the lighting system can then be programmed to meet specific requirements , changing as required at different times of the day or according to the use of the space . Factors such as colour , brightness , intensity and the combinations of lamps in use can all be automated and controlled to the most minute detail , meaning that energy use is controlled to this exact level too .

Smart lighting systems are particularly useful in areas that people do not enter regularly , ensuring that lighting will not be left on unnecessarily and eliminating waste .

Whilst implementing smart lighting systems is vital for optimising lighting efficiency , effective monitoring is also required to enable managers to take energy optimisation to the next level . A brand-new innovation that can facilitate this is light monitoring dashboards . A tool that can report real-time data from luminaires , enabling lighting environments to be monitored , managed and optimised like never before .

Light monitoring dashboards collect information from smart fittings across the entire installation network , displaying data in a user-friendly interface that offers full visibility of the lighting infrastructure at a glance .

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