1. Lighting Research Program
Project 4.5
Integrated Classroom Lighting System
Funded by Finelite and California Energy Commission's
Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program
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2. What is the PIER 4.5 Study?
PIER stands for Public Interest Energy Research
PIER is part of the California Energy Commission
PIER 4.5 was a research project about classroom lighting
The project involved hundreds of people, included installations in real-world classrooms, and lasted over two years
Its findings are important for architects, engineers, project managers, contractors, school administrators and officials that set policies at state and national levels.
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3. The PIER 4.5 Team: Architects Leading lighting designers Engineers
Energy professionals with leading utilities
Daylighting experts
School superintendents and their facilities teams
Staff at the California Energy Commission, Architectural Energy Corporation, Finelite, The Watt Stopper, FERRO and OSRAM
Teachers, students and staff at the five school districts where ICLS systems were installed in 18 classrooms
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4. PIER 4.5 built on established practices:
PIER 4.5 Derivative Research
RP-1 and RP-3 Guidelines:
Increased control leads to increased satisfaction
Light the surfaces
Pay special attention to the teaching wall
Reduce glare
Light the instructor’s face
Design should accommodate space changes
Light uniformly.
PIER 4.5 Research
Collaborative for High
Performance Schools
Daylighting Study & Practices
Established Electric Lighting Practices
It’s not just about 50fc!
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5. PIER 4.5 reviewed proven daylight practices:
PIER 4.5 Derivative Research
Quality daylighting improves student performance:
Daylight ≠ direct sun
Good daylighting increases student performance
Orient classrooms North/South not East/West
Use both top and side lighting
Use view windows.
PIER 4.5 Research
Collaborative for High
Performance Schools
Daylighting Study & Practices
Established Electric Lighting Practices
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6. PIER 4.5 followed CHPS-developed guidelines:
PIER 4.5 Derivative Research
CHPS materials are at
CHPS focuses on improving the entire school
Design to <1 w/sq. ft.
Utilize indirect luminaires
Incorporate daylighting
Incorporate sustainable practices
PIER 4.5 Research
Collaborative for High
Performance Schools
Daylighting Study & Practices
Established Electric Lighting Practices
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7. PIER 4.5 recognizes that teaching technology is changing!
PIER 4.5 Derivative Research
Classroom lighting needs to change:
Classrooms are computerized spaces; glare needs to be reduced
Classrooms are being wired to the web; teaching needs to be interactive
A/V presentations are increasingly important at all grade levels
Daylighting provides special opportunities and challenges.
PIER 4.5 Research
Collaborative for High
Performance Schools
Daylighting Study & Practices
Established Electric Lighting Practices
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8. Established Electric Lighting Practices
PIER 4.5 culminated in developing the first commercially available ICLS system:
PIER 4.5 Derivative Research
ICLS benefits are real and well tested:
Teacher satisfaction is increased by 9 to 1
Energy consumption is reduced to 0.8 w/sq. ft.
ICLS can be installed within existing budgets
ICLS integrates easily with daylight controls
PIER 4.5 Research
Collaborative for High
Performance Schools
Daylighting Study & Practices
Established Electric Lighting Practices
Architectural Energy Corporation

9. PIER Study Methodology
Evaluated wide-range of products that would be available by 2005
Designed and installed a preliminary ICLS system
Installed an improved ICLS in 18 classrooms in 6 schools
Monitored actual usage and energy consumption for a year
Conducted teacher preference surveys
Installed an enhanced ICLS at SCE training center
Developed a 181-page report that documents the study including data on each ICLS classroom, teacher preferences, and electric light and daylight interaction at the Southern California Edison CTAC facility (on line at
Provided a free, on-line ICLS performance specification and other industry links at
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10. ICLS Findings: Use high-performance, pendant indirect luminaires
Provide an Audio / Visual (A/V) mode under teacher control
Locate easy-to-use controls at the front of the classroom
Use dual technology occupancy sensors with teacher-controlled delay
Tie the parts together with low-voltage, plug-and-play cables
Ensure one manufacturer assumes system responsibility
Offer options including:
Photo-sensors for daylight control
A dedicated whiteboard luminaire
Dimming for A/V presentations
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11. How the system works: General Mode: light faces, light vertical wall surfaces, cut glare
Walls and ceilings are well lit
But, veiling reflections can wash out the screen.
One simple switch removes all veiling reflections.
The lighting changes from “GENERAL” to “A/V MODE.”
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12. How the system works: A/V operation reduces veiling reflections
The screen now looks sharp
Downlight delivers the right light on desks
Dimming can be added as an option.
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13. How the system works: General Mode: Two outboard lamps are switch on
The ICLS luminaire is wired so the outboard lamps are separate from the center lamp.
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14. How the system works: A/V operation reduces veiling reflections
Reflector over center lamp is 96% reflective
100% of light directed down to the desks
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15. ICLS typical layout Luminaires 2-rows 14-foot centers
24-inch suspension
Perpendicular to whiteboard
For over 50 foot candles at less than one watt / square foot, use 3100 lumen T8 lamps and 1.2 BF electronic ballasts
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16. ICLS w/ whiteboard Layout
Pendant Luminaires
2-rows pendant luminaires
14’ centers
24” suspension
Perpendicular to whiteboard
Whiteboard Luminaire
12’ Length
1T8 cross section
30” Setback from wall
12” Suspension
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17. Teacher Control Center
ICLS typical layout
Controls and sensors
TCC by whiteboard
Occupancy sensor in center of the room
Row switches by door(s)
Control Pack above door
Teacher Control Center
Control Pack
Occupancy Sensor
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18. ICLS typical layout Interconnections Low voltage
Plug-and-play between TCC, sensors, and Control Pack
Row switches (high voltage)
Row Control
Dual Occupancy Sensors
Teacher Control Center
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19. ICLS is energy efficient
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20. Monitoring data in Excel format
Room 20
Changes from
A/V to General
Room 18, the control,
Uses 82% more power
Than Room 22 in
“General Mode”
Room 22
Changes from
General to A/V
Room 22
Lights were dimmed
in A/V mode
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21. Heritage Oak School – Classroom 22
Lighting Usage –10/1/03
Heritage Oak School – Classroom 22
Time
Watt/Sq. ft.
1) Downlight - Dim
2) Uplight
3) Downlight Max
4) Downlight - Dim
5) Uplight
6) Lights Off
7) Uplight
8) Lights Off
9) Uplight
10) Lights Off
11) Uplight
12) Lights Off
13) Downlight - Dim
Architectural Energy Corporation

22. Heritage Oak School – Control Room18
Lighting Usage –10/1/03
Heritage Oak School – Control Room18
1) Lights On
3) Lights On
2) Lights Off
Watt/Sq. ft.
Time
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23. Heritage Oak School – Classroom 22
Lighting Usage –10/1/03
Heritage Oak School – Classroom 22
Time
Watt/Sq. ft.
Dimming
Dimming
= Savings Due to Downlight Mode
= Added Savings Due to Dimming
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24. Heritage Oak School – Classroom 22
Lighting Usage –10/1/03
Heritage Oak School – Classroom 22
Time
Watt/Sq. ft.
= Occupancy Sensor Savings
Potential Savings
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25. Lighting Usage –10/1/03 Heritage Oak School – Room 22
Savings Due to Best Practices.
Savings Due to Best Practices with Quality Lighting
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26. ICLS is cost effective Payback Energy (w/sq. ft.) DifferenceNA
0.80
$955
$1,100
($1.15 / sq ft)
3rd Row
(3 Rows / room)
2-3 years
0.20
$355
$500
($0.52 / sq ft)
A/V Dimming
(2 Rows, 1-Lamp)
3-6 Months
0.47
$30
$175
($0.18 / sq ft)
Daylight Switching
(each row)
Immediate!
- $145
$2,600
($2.71 / sq ft)
ICLS System
(A/V + Occupancy)
None
1.35 $0
$2,745
($2.86 / sq ft)
15 Parabolics
Payback
Energy
(w/sq. ft.)
Difference
Installed Cost
Alternative
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27. Teachers prefer ICLS 9 to 1
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28. Here are before and after photos of two ICLS test classrooms
Heritage Oak – represents new construction
Dudley Elementary – represents a lighting retrofit project. (There is tremendous opportunity to understand this area better.)
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29. Heritage Oak control classroom (1.75 watts / sq foot)
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30. Heritage Oak PIER system (0.8 watts / square foot)
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31. Dudley Elementary School (1960’s vintage fixtures, 1.7 watts / sq ft)
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32. Dudley Elementary School (Low Voltage Retrofit, 0.9 watts / sq ft)
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33. Conclusion ICLS benefits are real and well-tested
Building “Awareness” is our next challenge
Thank you for your support
Architectural Energy Corporation