What is Daylight Harvesting?
Daylight harvesting systems use natural light to reduce artificial electric lighting consumption. Learn how daylight harvesting strategies help save energy in buildings.
Overview
The daylight harvesting systems use daylight to compensate for the artificial electric lighting needed to properly illuminate a space. Daylight harvesting strategies help reduce energy consumption. This is accomplished by using lighting control systems which are capable of dimming or turning off electric lighting in response to the changing availability of daylight.
How It Works
Daylight harvesting relies on light sensors that measure the ambient light level in a space. When natural light is plentiful, the system automatically dims or turns off artificial lighting. As daylight decreases, artificial lighting increases to maintain the desired illumination level. This continuous adjustment happens automatically, without any user intervention.
Benefits
- Energy savings: Reduce lighting energy consumption by up to 40%
- Occupant comfort: Maintain consistent light levels regardless of time of day
- Reduced maintenance: Less runtime means longer lamp life
- Sustainability: Lower carbon footprint through reduced electricity usage
Integration with DALI
Modern daylight harvesting systems integrate with DALI lighting controllers like the DALION to provide precise, per-fixture control. DALI-2 light sensors report ambient light levels directly on the DALI bus, enabling the application controller to make real-time dimming decisions without additional wiring.