Ambient light sensor integration

Abstract

While daylight harvesting is one of the most energy efficient ways to minimize energy consumption in areas with adequate nature light inside buildings, Ambient Light Sensors (ALSs) are still not being widely installed. Many drawbacks on installation and commission of ALSs, are holding back their wide spread use in building sector. Most of the drawbacks are in relation with their position, field of view, spectral response, control algorithms, commissioning and the associated user's response. Moreover, with the advent of LED technology, lighting designers and engineers are focusing only in LED luminaires. Thus frequently ASLs are excluded from the planning, despite their even greater energy saving potential, not only in new installations but also during building retrofitting. The promising coming of CCD or CMOS image sensors can show some promise, but it is not clear yet if they can be widely incorporated in the building sector. Scope of this paragraph is the understanding of the nature of an ALS and its proper integration to buildings for their wide spread use.