Low-Cost Alternatives to Save Money on Lighting Expenses

Lighting expenses are typically 18-40% of a restaurant/retail establishment’s electrical bill. Here are some good suggestions to reduce these costs.Interior Lighting Can be automated

1. Implement automated schedules

  • Use dawn/dusk scheduling for exterior and parking lot lights.
  • Use employee typical work hours for interior schedules.

2. Employ bi-level switching

  • This allows you to turn off the lights for part of the room that is not being used.Automation based on operating hours savings lighting costs

3. Use dimmers

  • Available for both LEDs and CFLs, dimmers will automatically dim lights based on the natural light in the room.

4. Replace older lighting with LEDs / CFLsOccupancy Sensors save energy

  • Open signs are now available with LED lights.
  • LEDs can be expensive, replace the high traffic/high use areas first to make it work within your budget.

5. Use occupancy sensors

  • Best used in closets, storage rooms, break rooms and restrooms; occupancy sensors will turn off the lights when areas are not in use for a long period of time. This eliminates the lights being left on all night/day for an extended period of time.

Small Box Energy’s Lighting Control

One of the primary components of Small Box Energy’s chameleon solution is lighting control. We install a panel that controls 4 zones and up to 96 circuits off-the-shelf. If this set-up doesn’t meet your needs, we have a variety of standard or custom solutions available. Our lighting controls are used for both interior and exterior lighting control. With your help, we set-up the interior scheduling is based on operating hours and employee work schedules. For exterior lighting, we use an astronomical clock for automated and self-adjusting outdoor lighting control.

Customer results have shown a reduction in lighting consumption from 5-20% after installing chameleon. Want to see how much we can save you? Fill out this quick financial analysis form.