The goal of the project is to develop and test a dimmable, fluorescent lighting system that is suited for easy retrofit into existing commercial buildings and demonstrate the benefits to the lighting community.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is leading the research and development work for this project.

The system (view diagram) will dim in-line controlled (e.g., "phase-cut") fluorescent dimming ballasts down to 25 percent output and will be controllable by the following manual and automatic means:

1) manual dimming from a wallbox or handheld remote control.

2) automatic lighting control using PC-connected "multi-sensor".

3) manual dimming from PC control panel.

4) utility-triggered load shedding via Intranet-connected PC.

5) IJB "auto-pilot" mode, automatically enabled when PC, multi-sensor or IP connection are not in service.

Combining a dimmable fluorescent lighting system with the above control options will result in an integrated, yet highly flexible lighting control system. This unique lighting solution is particularly suited to retrofit applications since the installation requires no added wiring.

This project meets the PIER Goal of "Improving the Energy Cost/Value of California's Electricity" by reducing commercial building lighting energy consumption by 50 percent, with the potential to reduce peak demand loads by 70 percent. By targeting the existing building market, this project seeks to obtain the largest impact in the commercial building sector.

The system developed can be applied equally well in small or large buildings. Thus, it serves the small commercial customer - a market that is considered underserved by the California Public Utility Commission. The project also increases occupant control of lighting systems, thus addressing occupant comfort issues.

The main objective of this project is to prototype and test an advanced lighting controller designed to bring low-cost dimming to existing commercial building lighting systems.

The specific hardware to be prototyped will be designed to work with in-line controlled fluorescent lighting ballasts to form the core of a highly progressive, functional and efficient lighting control system.Another objective is to have ballast and control manufacturers embed in-line control technologies into their lighting control products.

Key objectives of this project include the following:

• the development and testing of an IJB that will dim inline controlled ballasts down to 25 percent without significantly increasing harmonics in the building's electrical system.
• the coupling of the IJB with a multi-function environmental sensor ("multi-sensor"), which will allow user-friendly implementation of two key lighting control strategies (specifically, daylighting and occupancy detection).
• the adaptation of a multi-channel IR communications link that will allow wireless communication between the PC and the IJB, as well as providing a simple communications link to the Internet or local Intranet.
• to work with ballast and control manufacturers to embed in-line control technologies into their lighting control products.