Reducing Lighting Watts Reduces Air Conditioning Costs
Technical Bulliten
LIGHT AND AC 102109
Lighting Produces Heat
All lighting produces heat. For every watt of light used in a room, virtually all of that wattage is converted into heat that stays in that room, until it is removed.
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Air Conditioning Removes Heat
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Air conditioning (A/C) is typically used to remove heat from a room, including the heat from lighting. A/C units use electricity to run their condensers, fans, and other circuits. If lighting wattage is reduced, generally the amount of air conditioning needed is reduced.
A/C USAGE RATES VARY BY REGION
Air conditioning is used for more days of the year in the south than in the north. As a result, lighting places more of an A/C demand on southern states than in the north. On average, the U.S. can be split into 3 zones. Each zone has a corresponding Air Conditioning Factor:
A/C FACTOR by Region
NORTH 1 watt (light) + 0.285 watt (A/C) = 1.285
MID-SECTION 1 watt (light) + 0.417 watt (A/C) = 1.417
SOUTH 1 watt (light) + 0.550 watt (A/C) = 1.550
HOW THE A/C FACTOR WORKS
The A/C Factor is simply a multiplier that lets you calculate how many watts a lighting system will really use, including the air conditioning to cool it.
A/C Factor x Lighting watts = Total Lighting System Watts (Lighting plus Cooling)
Remember, reducing lighting watts can also lower A/C costs, and save even more money!
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Tom,
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