UC Riverside School of Medicine Research Building uses Innovative Lighting Solutions

Western Energy Control Solutions, the exclusive manufacturer’s representative for Lutron Products in Southern California – has published a case study on a local project for UC Riverside – which outlines how Lutron wireless control systems can significantly reduce energy costs.

University of Riverside is located in Southern California and is distinguished by more than 50 years of innovative thinking, breakthrough research and real-world solutions. UCR has practiced its motto of “Pioneering sustainable solutions to environmental challenges facing California and beyond” by utilizing innovative lighting solutions in its Medicine Research Building. In fact, UCR has recently been selected to win the IES LIGHTING CONTROL INNOVATION AWARD OF MERIT by the Illuminating Engineering Society. The award recognizes projects that exemplify the effective use of lighting controls in nonresidential applications. Additionally, the building is on track to receive LEED Gold Certification and was designed within budget and exceeds California’s Title 24 building energy code by 25%.

The UC Riverside Medicine Research Building is a 60,000-sq-ft Biomedical Sciences building. Innovative strategies and products were utilized for innovative daylight solutions that optimize natural light and energy efficiency while preserving views. A complete digital addressable lighting control system was used to reduce lighting energy consumption while providing maximum controllability by the users of laboratories, support spaces, conference rooms and open offices.

Some of the highlights of the UC Riverside project:

• Established a uniform 20-footcandle maintained ambient light level for occupied lab spaces.
• Interior light shelves allow for deeper daylight penetration into laboratory spaces while preserving daylight views.
• Integrated motorized shades by Lutron eliminate unwanted glare and deploy from the sill upwards.
• The Lutron Quantum Lighting Control System allowed rooftop and interior photo-sensors coupled with a rooftop weather station responds dynamically to actual sky conditions.
• The daylighting system is integrated with the electric lighting, thereby ensuring a uniform level of ambient light regardless of time of day or changing exterior conditions.
• LED task lighting with integral occupancy sensors increases task illuminance to 100 footcandles.
• Task tuning was utilized building wide. Initial illuminance within lab support spaces is 80% of the available illuminance. Higher illuminance levels are achieved by pressing and holding wall switches to increase light levels.
• The lighting in all circulation areas is controlled by occupancy sensors.
• Public area lighting is programmed to reduce illuminance to minimum levels when occupancy is not detected.
• The Lutron Quantum Lighting Control System provided lighting scenes with Lutron integral shade control within conference rooms.
• Wall-mounted occupancy sensors and fixture-integral light level controllers are utilized in perimeter office spaces.

The Lighting Control Innovation Award was created in 2011 as part of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Illumination Awards program, which recognizes professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design. The award is sponsored by The Lighting Control Association.

Working closely with the user group, the design team established a uniform 20-footcandle maintained ambient light level for occupied lab spaces.

Interior light shelves allow for deeper daylight penetration into laboratory spaces while preserving daylight views. Integrated motorized shades in the clerestory section above 9 ft. eliminate unwanted glare.

Integrated motorized shades deploy from the sill upwards, and a sophisticated control system using rooftop and interior photosensors coupled with a rooftop weather station responds dynamically to actual sky conditions. The daylighting system is integrated with the electric lighting, thereby ensuring a uniform level of ambient light regardless of time of day or changing exterior conditions.

LED task lighting with integral occupancy sensors increases task illuminance to 100 footcandles.

Task tuning was utilized building wide. Initial illuminance within lab support spaces is 80% of the available illuminance. Higher illuminance levels are achieved by pressing and holding wall switches to increase
light levels.

The lighting in all circulation areas is controlled by occupancy sensors.

Public area lighting is programmed to reduce illuminance to minimum levels when occupancy is not detected.

Multiscene lighting controllers provide lighting scenes with integral shade control within conference rooms.

Wall-mounted occupancy sensors and fixture-integral light level controllers are utilized in perimeter office spaces.

For more information on creating energy savings utilizing Lutron’s energy control products – call Western Energy Control Solutions today at 1-855-LUTRON1.