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Energy-efficient supplier

How LSW NETZ GmbH benefits from intelligent automation and lighting solutions

As part of the core refurbishment of its building at the technology site in Fallersleben, Wolfsburg-based energy supplier LSW has installed modern LED lighting and intelligent presence detectors from ESYLUX. 
An automatically controlled orientation light provides additional safety in the corridors. A lighting system with energy-efficient Human Centric Lighting is used in the workspaces.

With its network area of around 2115 square kilometres, as well as decades of experience and expertise in planning and managing electricity, gas, water and district heating networks, LSW not only supplies energy to the city of Wolfsburg in Lower Saxony, where the company is based, but also to numerous towns and municipalities in the surrounding areas. In consultation with the government, administration, property developers and the public, the company is continually developing new concepts for energy, heat and transport.

Core refurbishment at the Wolfsburg-Fallersleben technical site

The Wolfsburg-Fallersleben technical site's two-part building – which houses 130 workspaces – had technology that was getting a little long in the tooth: outdated electrical installations, a multitude of different types of radiators and much of it now a kind of patchwork due to variable room uses. Those responsible therefore decided on a core refurbishment, in the course of which the three floors and the basement with a total of 630 square metres of floor space were modernised from the ground up – from the shading, air conditioning, ventilation and data technology to the renewed façade.

When it came to renewing the artificial lighting, the decision was made to permanently install LEDs throughout the building. In addition, intelligent presence detectors were to be used to control the lighting depending on requirements. Both measures increase the building's energy efficiency, and the sensor technology also provides automated comfort. LSW used ESYLUX solutions for both the lighting and the sensor-controlled automation.

In the meeting and conference rooms of the two-part building, LSW employees regularly coordinate current projects. Here too, they benefit from the Human Centric Lighting of the installed lighting system.

Energy only when it's needed

Today, entry-level BASIC-series presence detectors ensure motion- and daylight-dependent switching of OLIVIA-series moisture-proof lights in storage rooms and file cabinets. Plugin terminals on both sides of the luminaire housing made it easy to wire through. Another advantage of automation is automatic switching on and off only as required, as this makes optimum use of the long life expectancy of the built-in LEDs.

In the corridors and entrance areas, as is often the case, a more elegant design was required. ELSA Square-series downlights were therefore installed here. During installation, the drivers were easily connected to the luminaires via a plugin connection, and the low installation depth of the aluminium housing also simplified mounting. With their flicker-free light, the luminaires guarantee the best lighting and visibility conditions in traffic areas.

Corridors with automatic orientation light

To control the downlights, the energy supplier opted for a special version of the ESYLUX COMPACT series with DUO-DALI presence detectors. In the corridors, they provide presence- and daylight-dependent constant lighting control in DALI broadcast mode and would also be suitable for energy-efficient offset control of two lighting channels in rooms with only one window side. However, the actual reason for use at the current location was the orientation light function of the detectors.

In the sanitary areas of the two-part building, the synergy of COMPACT presence detectors and ELSA downlights ensures lighting that's optimal while remaining energy-efficient.

The orientation light produces heavily dimmed illumination, the intensity of which can be varied from 10 to 50 % light output. With appropriate configuration via the ESY-App, the detectors activate the orientation light as soon as the lag time following the last detected movement has elapsed. This maintains a pleasant background brightness in the corridors, which prevents, for example, someone from stepping out of a lit room into a corridor that is pitch black at first. This has also proved to be a convenient and, above all, safe solution for LSW's night-time on-call service.

Due to daylight-dependent light control, the artificial light often does not have to shine at full power. In the corridors, the presence detectors dim it down to an orientation light if nobody is present.

Lighting system for plug-and-play installation

LSW's office spaces include individual, multi-person offices and meeting rooms with typical suspended acoustic ceilings. ESYLUX lighting systems with ESYLUX Light Control ELC control technology contribute to wellbeing here. The lighting systems combine recessed LED ceiling lights, control units and an intelligent presence and light sensor system. All components were simply connected during installation using plug-and-play and were ready to use immediately with the factory settings without having to be programmed.

Employees in the company benefit from energy-efficient Human Centric Lighting implemented with the SymbiLogic technology from ESYLUX. For one thing, SymbiLogic creates brightness and colour gradients similar to daylight. These improve vitality, motivation and the ability to concentrate at work. For another, HCL stabilises the day-night rhythm by suppressing the hormone melatonin during the day, thus promoting restful sleep.

Human Centric Lighting for increased vitality, concentration and improved health

The SymbiLogic, in conjunction with the sensor technology, also ensures energy-efficient implementation of this modern form of lighting: The presence detector activates the artificial light only when someone is present and reduces energy consumption even with the dynamic brightness gradients. Using adaptive HCL light control, it dims the artificial light only as high as required by the dynamic setpoint and the daylight coming in through the windows. As such, the artificial light doesn't have to be on at full power during the day.

The employees are completely satisfied with their new office environment and the light is very pleasant. In addition, the light colour and brightness in the office spaces can be adjusted as desired at any time using a light switch. Otherwise, due to the automation, nobody needs to worry about it. This is also an advantage due to flexible working hours between 6 am and 6 pm and the high work-related mobility of the employees. After all, they can never know for sure whether they will actually be the last ones to leave the building. The presence detector is therefore always the last to switch off the light.