The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a GATEWAY demonstration report that summarizes and compares experiences from field installations of occupancy sensor-controlled LED lighting in two parking structures and two parking lots. Occupancy sensor systems are gaining traction as an effective approach to reducing energy use, and can potentially enhance the savings from an already efficient lighting system. However, this technology also faces challenges that can leave a significant amount of the prospective savings on the table.

The relative levels of success at these sites reflect a broad range of potential outcomes—from an additional 76% in energy savings (after those gained by the initial conversion to LED) to virtually no additional savings. Several key issues influenced the results in these early stage installations, including products not adequately designed to withstand full exposure to the environment, installation designs not sufficiently optimized for the individual site, and overlapping control systems. The report emphasizes the need to carefully examine the selection of equipment, and its integration into a coordinated system, to maximize performance while minimizing inconvenience and negative effects on users of the space.

The report is available for download. This lighting demonstration is one of many DOE GATEWAY demonstrations that showcase high-performance LED products for general illumination.