Improving energy efficiency in residential buildings
On the whole, residents in shared residential buildings need to make savings and optimise resources. They can do this by making improvements in communal areas. Around a third of the energy consumed in the world can be traced to residences, public spaces and retail premises. Heating, air conditioning, ventilation, lighting and mechanical devices all add to the cost of monthly bills and are a critical outgoing for communities of home owners.
In this article we will talk about...
- The context and the benefits
- Putting the brakes on energy consumption
- Illumination products recommended by Secom
On the whole, residents in shared residential buildings need to make savings and optimise resources. They can do this by making improvements in communal areas. Around a third of the energy consumed in the world can be traced to residences, public spaces and retail premises. Heating, air conditioning, ventilation, lighting and mechanical devices all add to the cost of monthly bills and are a critical outgoing for communities of home owners.
It is hardly surprising that groups of residents are increasingly looking at what they can do put the brakes on how much energy they consume. Ecological transition, sustainability and finances are all important factors in the decision to install modern lighting systems in buildings.
The context and the benefits
Precisely because energy consumption in residential buildings is so high, there are a number of ways to make savings. According to the International Energy Agency, buildings equal around 41% of the potential energy savings we can make globally by 2035. To put it into perspective, the industry and transport sectors account for just 24% and 21%, respectively, of potential savings.
If associations of home owners want to make savings, it means making changes that guarantee sustainability and energy efficiency. Nowadays, caring for the environment and the fight against climate change are two of the factors that are automatically taken into account when decisions about the infrastructures installed in buildings are taken. Decreasing consumption and bringing how much we spend on electricity down are also key factors in the decision-making process and the reason why an increasing number of home owners are choosing to update their lighting systems to include LED technology and illumination control.
Lights, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling systems account for up to 60% of the energy that most associations of home owners consume. The installations in buildings tend to be obsolete and there is generally significant room for improvement.
Many home owner associations are taking the idea of renewing, modernising and updating their systems very seriously. It is a great way to make quick savings because the money that goes into renewing lighting systems is recuperated after just a few months.
Putting the brakes on energy consumption
Home owners who wish to bring their energy consumption levels down can choose to do any of the following to improve quality of life in residential buildings:
Perform an energy audit
An energy audit diagnoses the status of energy systems in buildings. It can be used to determine if there is any room for improvement so that groups of residents can optimise consumption and bring electricity bills down.
It includes a planning and data collection phase followed by steps such as technical and visual visits, interviews with home owners and questionnaires. This provides auditors with the necessary information to write a preliminary report.
After this, experimental measures can help to verify the data that was collected. Then associations can move on to the next phase: an energy diagnosis and analysis so that improvement proposals can be included in a final report. Audits of this kind analyse any system that consumes energy, from illumination to cooling and heating systems.
Replace existing lights with LED technology
Updating to LED lights can help to bring energy consumption levels down by around 75% in comparison with traditional systems. Residents in shared buildings and trade and industrial building managers are rapidly transitioning to LED illumination.
Updates include motion sensors, illumination control, automation systems and a wide range of technologies and products that adapt to suit each space. The range of luminaires, light fixtures, spotlights and more is huge and they all optimise consumption and have excellent incorporated features. Furthermore, in comparison with traditional systems, they improve light quality and visual comfort.
Efficient electronic control systems
Control systems consist of interconnected devices that determine how other devices and systems function. They can regulate illumination at certain times of the day or when people are using certain parts of a building. Users enjoy increased flexibility and can adapt the amount of light they use. The upshot is an optimised lighting system that makes financial savings.
Illumination products recommended by Secom
There are several lights that can help to improve energy efficiency in the communal areas of residential buildings, all of which are very efficient and include excellent features. For example, the following LED luminaires:
- Aircom Medium, Aircom Supra and square Aircom. Downlight LED indoor illumination for industrial and domestic use.
- Mitel and Mitol. Indoor recessed lighting with LED technology.
- LED strip lighting. A discreet and aesthetically-pleasing option that is particularly suitable for indoor or outdoor shared transit areas.
- Berna. An indoor luminaire system that is ideal for basements and garages.
- Dala and Tular.These surface indoor illumination systems are ideal for homes.
- Loop and Loop Supra.There are lots of possibilities with this recessed system that helps to manage glare.
- Flo Pro. An exterior LED luminaire that is perfect for delimiting transit areas or lighting up gardens.
- Trido. This sign luminaire is a great option because it is very energy efficient.
- Auris. A luminaire that is easy to fit onto columns or as a suspended light.
- Ripa and Ray Ben. Luminaires for garden settings.
The characteristics and features of all these products mean that they are incredibly efficient and exactly what groups of home owners need when they want to make improvements in residential buildings. It is possible to update existing systems and install leading technology to achieve excellent, sustainable and energy-efficient illumination that delivers financial savings everybody can enjoy.
