Square D® Powerlink® G3 Intelligent Lighting Control System Better Manages Commercial Building Operating Costs Through Demand Response

A Square D® Powerlink® G3 intelligent lighting control system can be a critical cog in a demand response strategy by dimming or turning off pre-selected lighting loads when necessary, helping commercial building managers better control operating costs. Seamless to retrofit into an existing building and integrate within a building automation system, a Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control system can quickly react to potential load-shed situations, such as market electrical prices reaching a pre-determined ceiling that prompts a shift to backup power sources. A Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control system also can be used to configure and execute a load-shed sequence remotely, increasing convenience for facility managers.

“Managing energy costs in a commercial building is about managing consumption and demand,” said Scott Jordan, Square D Powerlink product marketing manager. “Facility managers use a Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control system to control consumption by shutting off lights when a building isn’t being used. But it’s equally effective at controlling demand. If a demand response situation arises, such as an electrical price ceiling or utility peak demand, Square D Powerlink products allow a commercial building owner to respond by altering lighting loads or switching to a generator or alternate energy source, like solar or wind power.”

Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control panelboards contain a schedule-based controller that can be configured to include a load-shed lighting sequence that activates based on a command from the building automation system, facility manager or even directly from the utility. Both Square D Powerlink G3 2000 Level network-enabled and 3000 Level web-enabled controllers can be remotely configured with a load-shed sequence by Schneider Electric, saving a facility manager time.

Both Square D Powerlink G3 2000 and 3000 Level controllers support open data communications protocols like Modbus® and Building Automation and Control network (BACnet), so implementing a demand response strategy takes less time due to simplified integration. Additionally, retrofitting an existing building is easy because Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control panelboards are an exact fit for other Square D lighting panelboards.

“Whether demand response is a formal program offered by the local utility or a strategy that a commercial building owner or manager wants to implement, a Square D Powerlink G3 intelligent lighting control system can help better predict operating costs,” Jordan said. “If electrical costs increase throughout the year, or faster than projected, activating a pre-configured load-shed sequence can reduce those costs and preserve budget. In some cases, the local utility might anticipate higher-than-expected market electrical prices and may make an offer to buy back a facility’s electric demand.”

For more information about the Square D Powerlink whole-building lighting control system or other lighting control products from Schneider Electric, visit www.squaredlightingcontrol.com.

About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centers/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company’s 114,000 employees achieved sales of more than $23 billion in 2008.

#     #     #

RETURN TO NEW PRODUCTS