Lighting the Way to Demand Response

Demand-response (DR) programs, in which facilities reduce their electric loads in response to a utility signal, represent a powerful tool for cutting peak demand and reducing stress on the electric power grid. It is also an effective strategy for customers to control energy costs. Lighting reductions can be a significant element of DR programs because lighting use coincides with periods of peak demand, and light levels can be reduced significantly for short periods with little impact on a building’s occupants. Commercially available advanced lighting-control systems can be used today to reduce demand, but the cost, the potential savings, and the best way to implement these systems have not been adequately defined.