Daylighting Controls Focus of LRC’s Train-the-Trainer Session

Andrew Bierman demonstrates daylighting techniques with the Daylighting Controls Simulator.

What should a daylight switching system do? What should a daylight dimming system do? Where should daylighting control systems measure daylight in a building? What is the difference between a closed-loop and an open-loop control system? These questions and many more are answered in the Daylighting Controls Practicum developed by the Daylight Dividends program.

Twelve lighting professionals, instructors and energy efficiency experts convened recently at a two-day, hands-on session at the Lighting Research Center. These trainers will offer the Daylighting Controls Practicum at various sites around the country. The LRC’s Andrew Bierman, Dan Frering, Terry Klein, Russ Leslie, and Peter Morante focused their training-session instruction on the design, selection and commissioning of today’s daylighting control systems.

The goals of the practicum are to train a range of lighting decision-makers to:

Terry Klein explains the Daylighting Controls Simulator while participants get hands-on practice.

• successfully design daylighting control systems for a variety of space types
• specify and select daylighting control products that will meet the objectives of the design
• commission the system for effective operation
• operate the system efficiently

Researchers at the LRC also developed a device to simulate a daylighting control system within a room. Dubbed simply the “Daylighting Controls Simulator,” this apparatus was designed to demonstrate the interaction between natural daylight and the major components of a daylighting control system—photocell, controller, ballast and power supply.

For more information about the Daylighting Controls Practicum offered in your area, contact one of the trainers below.

Dan Frering Lighting Research Center Troy, NY (518) 687-7149 frerid@rpi.edu	Bill Burke Pacific Gas & Electric San Francisco, CA (415) 973-9951 wxb0@pge.com
Sam Sam Fankhauser Connecticut Light & Power Hartford, CT (860) 832-4750 fankhsr@nu.com	Curt Klaassen Iowa Energy Center Ankeny, IA (515) 965-7055 curtk@energy.iastate.edu
Jeannine Komonosky Pacific Gas & Electric San Francisco, CA (415) 973-8850 jfk4@pge.com	Chris Meek UW Daylighting Lab Seattle, WA (206) 616-7014 cmeek@u.washington.edu
Kathleen Peake The Lighting Collaborative Tustin, CA (714) 669-0835 kpeake@pacbell.net	Greg Sharp Southern California Edison Irwindale, CA (626) 812-7368 gregory.sharp@sce.com
Dona Stankus, AIA North Carolina Solar Center Raleigh, NC (919) 513-0307 dona_stankus@ncsu.edu	Eric Strandberg Lighting Design Lab Seattle, WA (206) 325-9711 Ext. 28 eric@lightingdesignlab.com
Marsha Walton New York State Energy Research & Development Authority Albany, NY (518) 862-1090 mlw@nyserda.org

Daylight Dividends
The Daylight Dividends program is a national effort administered by the Lighting Research Center to educate and provide evidence, guidance, and perspectives supporting the use of daylighting in commercial and educational facilities. Program sponsors include California Energy Commission, Connecticut Light and Power Company, Iowa Energy Center, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, North Carolina Daylighting Consortium, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

About the LRC

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) is part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is the leading university-based research center devoted to lighting. Founded in 1988, the Lighting Research Center has built an international reputation as a trusted and reliable source for objective information about lighting technologies, applications, and products. Its mission is to advance the effective use of light and create a positive legacy of change for society and the environment.

© 2005 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180 USA.