Lighting Energy Management System Based on PC’s Power Save Mode

Abstract

Lighting energy shares a large portion of building energy. Although lighting control system is deployed in the building, it has limited effects on reducing lighting energy use without the help of occupancy sensors. We use PC’s power save mode as an occupancy sensor in office buildings that are not equipped with occupancy sensors. When each PC goes to power save mode, it means that there is no one in that area, that is, no occupancy. If we make mapping relation between the lights and the PC’s, we can figure out when the light should be turned on and off from the state of PC’s power save mode. This scheme can contribute to reduction of lighting energy use in buildings that has lighting control system but has no occupancy sensors. The estimated results show the positive effect on reduction of the lighting energy use.

Analysis of Electric Energy Consumption Patterns: A Case Study of a Real Life Office Building

“…4. If we investigate the unnecessary turned-on equipments on non-work hour and weekend and put personal computers not in use to saving mode on work hour, non-lighting energy consumption can greatly decrease.We can use the system software agent to reduce the personal computers' consumption in case of a user's absence or in lunch hour as in[8].…”