Here are 10 frequently asked questions (FAQs) you can include on your website to help your clients understand your services and the value of energy efficiency:
Network Lighting Control (NLC) systems use sensors and software (intelligent controls) to manage lighting much more efficiently. They reduce energy consumption by adjusting lighting based on occupancy, daylight levels, required light levels and pre-set schedules. This can lower lighting energy costs by 30-40% on top of savings from LED upgrades.
Another key benefits NLC provides:
Any business using HVAC, lighting, motors, or compressed air can benefit from an energy efficiency audit. Audits identify areas where energy is being wasted and recommend solutions like upgrades, controls, and optimization strategies that lead to reduced energy costs.
Power factor correction improves the efficiency of electrical systems by reducing the amount of reactive power, which can lead to higher electricity bills. Correcting power factor can lower energy costs, improve system performance, and extend the lifespan of electrical equipment.
Read More about Power Factor Correction
The cost of solar panels has come down 20% plus over the past 3 – 4 years. The efficiency of solar panels has improved significantly over the past 3 – 5 years. Energy capacities of solar batteries have increased, allowing for longer backup periods and better grid integration. The cost of solar batteries has come down 50% from 2018 to 2023, and the efficiencies now exceeds 90% in some cases, meaning less energy is lost in the charge-discharge cycle.
Solar batteries have become smarter and more versatile, thanks to advances in software integration and control systems. Features like time-of-use optimization, which allows batteries to charge and discharge based on electricity rates, and seamless integration with solar panels and home energy management systems, have become more common.
Finally, the following are the key factors that could lead to payback under five years:
Yes, we are doing this today! Network Lighting Controls are being added to facilities with LED fixtures. The existing LED fixture driver will require a 0-10V driver and or an auxiliary report. This retrofit will unlock 30 – 40% additional energy savings by optimizing lighting based on your facilities real-time conditions.
A traditional lighting system operates on fixed schedules or manual control, while NLC systems use sensors and smart controls to adjust lighting based on occupancy, daylight, and other factors. This dynamic control significantly reduces unnecessary lighting and lowers energy consumption.
Power quality refers to the stability and consistency of your electrical supply. Poor power quality can lead to equipment malfunction, energy inefficiencies, and even system failures. Addressing power quality issues ensures the reliable operation of electrical equipment and reduces energy waste.
Energy waste in HVAC systems can come from poor maintenance, inefficient equipment, lack of proper controls, and improper sizing. Solutions such as waste heat recovery, variable speed drives, and optimized ventilation systems can significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
Smart motors, compared to traditional induction motors, can reduce energy consumption by up to 70%. They use precise control algorithms to optimize performance, reducing the energy required to complete tasks, which leads to lower operational costs.
We offer various types of compressed air leak detection audits, including auditory leak audits, soapy water audits, and ultrasonic leak detection. These services help identify and eliminate leaks that can waste up to 30% of compressed air energy.
Energy efficiency improvements can lead to long-term savings of 20-50% on your energy bills, depending on the measures implemented. These savings come from reduced energy consumption, lower maintenance costs, and improved equipment lifespans.
If your business has not had an energy audit in the past 5-years it would benefit.
If your utility provides rebates to reduce energy waste there is a good chance the projects will have an attractive payback, and some projects could pay for themselves in one year.
Our Audits identify areas where energy is wasted and recommend solutions, such as upgrades, controls/software, and optimization strategies, that reduce energy costs.
Traditional lighting systems operate on fixed schedules or require manual control and are operating at 100% all the time regardless of the occupancy in the facility.
Network Lighting Controls (NLC) software, sensors and recording devices (gateways) to provide many benefits, and here are just a few:
30 – 40% great energy savings
25 – 50% higher utility rebate
Extended LED fixture life – over 200,000 hours
Scheduling – eliminates turning lights on and off at the breaker
Emergency fixture checks and reporting
Energy Reports for total savings and kWh used
A compressed air leak audit finds and measures air leaks in a compressed air system. Leaks waste energy, cost money, and can damage equipment.
Bringing in an expert for an energy waste survey helps identify areas of inefficiency that may not be obvious, ensuring you capture all potential savings. They can recommend tailored solutions for energy conservation, from lighting upgrades to HVAC improvements, ultimately reducing operational costs. Additionally, a professional can help prioritize projects with the best return on investment, improving your facility’s overall sustainability and energy performance.
Our energy monitoring is less evasive and allows us to connect directly to an electrical panel and set up a sensor to monitor a city or piece of equipment in 10 minutes. We use wireless sensors and gateways (collect data) to monitor energy use every 15 seconds. We quickly find hidden energy waste that our clients never knew existed. The same sensors provide valuable insight into potential breakdowns before they become a problem.
Implementing LED fixtures with Network Lighting Controls (NLCs) significantly increases energy savings compared to LED-only solutions. For example, suppose an LED fixture operates at 50% power during non-occupancy events and further dims to 15% after an additional 15 minutes of inactivity. In that case, Assume that an LED fixture operates at 50% power during non-occupancy events and dims further to 15% after an additional 15 minutes of inactivity. In that case, the total energy savings can reach 40-50% over standard LED lighting.
Consider a 150W LED fixture:
With NLCs, it dims to 75W during partial occupancy and further down to 20W when unoccupied.
A traditional LED-only fixture continues consuming 150W regardless of occupancy.
Over time, these savings add up—especially in more extensive facilities. Heat maps within NLC software also track occupancy patterns, enabling facility managers to fine-tune settings for even greater efficiency as more data becomes available.
Lumens per watt (LPW) is how much light your light fixture yields per watt of energy. Today, electrical supply houses and contractors largely use 140 – 150 lumen per watt fixtures. They are instructed to do so by their suppliers because the lower LPW fixtures are reported to last longer. Unfortunately, that is not entirely accurate. The most important design effect for an LED fixture/luminaire is its design’s thermal efficiency and heat sync. For the past six years Energy Design Engineers has used exclusively a 200-LPW fixture and we are not having issues with the fixtures in the field.
The additional LPW allows us to use a lower-wattage LED fixture and provide our clients an extra layer of energy savings. A good example: A 150W LED fixture of 140 LPW will yield 21,000 lumens. A 100W LED fixture that is 200 LPW yields 20,000 lumens and saves a whopping 50W per hour per fixture.
Looking at solar purely from a “payback” perspective often misses the bigger picture. The actual value lies in gaining control over your energy future.
With solar, companies can:
As more data centers and EV infrastructure strain the U.S. power grid, we’re seeing delays in generation and transmission upgrades. This not only drives higher energy costs, but also impacts power reliability.
And while a projected 20% rise in energy costs over the next three years may improve solar paybacks, the real win is securing a stable, predictable energy supply—and that’s priceless.
25 – 30 years, and our solar panels offer 25-year warranties, ensuring continued operation beyond the initial 25 – 30-year period. Inverters typically last between 10 and 15 years.
Save Money, Boost Your Brand, and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint.
Contact Energy Design Engineers for expert solutions in sustainable energy systems and innovative engineering designs. Whether you have a project in mind or need consultation, our team is ready to assist you in achieving energy efficiency and success.
