Jun 21 2013
Industry leaders join forces to create a seamless integration of light and glass, optimizing the use of daylight and electric light while enhancing occupant comfort
DENVER – Two pioneers of their respective industries—Lutron Electronics, the inventors of lighting control, and SAGE Electrochromics, creator of the world’s first fully automated electronically tintable glass—have teamed up to offer a seamless approach to the problem of regulating indoor light and heat while reducing energy costs.
The integration of Lutron lighting controls and motorized window treatments with SAGE electronically controlled tintable windows optimizes the use of daylight and electric light in offices and homes and enhances occupant comfort. That means increased productivity and comfort and lower energy bills—goals that rank high on any building owner’s list—as well as a “worry free” system integration for the architects and contractors involved.
According to Helen Sanders, PhD , vice-president of technical business development at SAGE, specialists from the two companies will work together to commission the system.
“That’s a first,” she said. “The SAGE-Lutron team will manage the integration from start to finish, giving builders one less detail to worry about in the construction of high performance buildings.”
The new system combines SageGlass®, dynamic glass that tints on demand to modulate light, heat and glare, with Lutron’s portfolio of QS products, including the Quantum® total light management system, HomeWorks® QS total home control system and Sivoia® QS motorized shades. Lutron lighting control systems provide a total light management approach that links a variety of separate components, including EcoSystem® digitally-addressable LED drivers and fluorescent ballasts, wireless occupancy and daylight sensors, motorized window treatments and wireless Pico® keypads to create a single intelligent system capable of controlling everything from a room, to an entire building or a complete campus.
“The combination of dimmable lighting, motorized window treatments and electrochromic glass is a powerful tool in the war against energy waste,” said Pekka Hakkarainen, PhD, vice-president for government affairs at Lutron. “Each of these solutions, on its own, can have a significant impact. Putting them together in an integrated façade can yield even greater savings and a solid return on investment.”
The way it works, he added, is by dramatically increasing the amount of daylight that penetrates a building. “By ‘harvesting’ daylight, we reduce the amount of electric light needed.” Since electric lighting accounts for approximately 381 percent of an average building’s total electricity consumption, the building owner can save up to 602 percent of lighting electricity usage.
“Most important,” added Dr. Hakkarainen, “the solution benefits people. Studies3, 4 show that daylight and unobstructed views can have an enormous effect on the satisfaction, health, motivation and performance of those who live or work in the buildings.”
For further information about the SAGE-Lutron solution, please visit www.lutron.com or www.sageglass.com to contact a representative.
Source: http://sageglass.com/