Performance Analysis of Hotel Lighting Control System

Erik Page and Michael Siminovitch, University of California, Davis, California Lighting Technology Center

Keywords

Abstract

The Lighting Control System (LCS), a wall switch occupancy sensor, was designed with two key features to save energy while maintaining hotel guest acceptance of the system. First, based on a detailed analysis of user patterns, the LCS was programmed with a much longer timeout setpoint than traditionally used. Second, when the bathroom luminaire is turned off, the LCS provides an LED nightlight that is automatically activated. Researchers established detailed criteria to determine representative hotel rooms in the Sacramento area, and selected the Doubletree Hotel as its test site. Hobo light state loggers were installed in 15 rooms and collected data for at least two months. Data was downloaded from the loggers, LCSs were installed in the bathrooms, and the loggers continued to record use for an additional two months. The researchers planned to determine (1) the average burning hours per day before and after installation of the LCS; (2) the effect of the LCS on decreasing long burning periods; (3) the extent to which the reduction of long burning periods contributes to energy savings; and (4) how the LCS change the usage profile as a function of time of day. Analysis of the pre- and postinstallation data allowed researchers to gain insight into bathroom luminaire usage patterns in the rooms, and to determine an energy savings of approximately 46 percent with the use of the LCS.