Future perfect

Just as homeowners are becoming increasingly aware of the economic implications of energy efficiency, big businesses are seeing that they can not only assist the environment, but also save money by using power-saving systems. James Design is a company that is employed to create these kinds of systems.

For the offices at Green Square, James Design worked to find a balance between energy-efficient lighting and ensuring there would still be enough light for employees to work by. Light fittings are installed with one less lamp than is the norm, but these fittings are placed closer together.

Lighting controls are digital and work by supplying light for each 100m². When the working day is coming to an end, lights flash to warn any employees doing overtime that they need to switch on after-hours lighting for the section they are working in. These departmental lighting controls also mean lights can be switched off in areas where natural light is available.

To keep track of how much power is being used in any one part of the building, meters are installed.

"A higher power usage will show if something needs to be maintained or replaced. A traditional bulk meter will not allow this, so the guesswork is removed, which means the problem is fixed sooner," says Lionel Ferris, director of James Design.

For more information, contact James Design, 206 Logan Road, Burnada, Queensland 4102, phone (07) 3891 9277, fax (07) 3891 9288. Email: jd@jamesdesign.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas