Lighting systems and methods for displacing energy consumption using natural lighting fixtures

Abstract

A lighting system for displacing energy is provided. The lighting system includes a light sensor to measure an amount of light provided from the natural lighting fixture to a building environment. The lighting system further includes processing electronics to receive information from the light sensor and to use the received information to determine when the amount of light provided from the natural lighting fixture is sufficient to allow one or more electric lighting fixtures to be turned off or dimmed, the processing electronics causing the one or more electric lighting fixtures to turn off or dim in response to the determination. The processing electronics are further configured to calculate the energy saved from turning off or dimming the one or more lighting fixtures. The lighting system further includes a communications interface configured to transmit the results of the calculation of energy saved from the processing electronics to a second party.

1 . A kit of parts for a replacement lighting system, comprising:
 at least one sensor configured to measure the light provided to a building environment by ambient light;   a plurality of energy efficient lighting fixtures;   a control system configured to receive measurement information from the at least one sensor and configured to control at least one of the plurality of energy efficient lighting fixtures to turn off or dim when the measured ambient light exceeds a minimum threshold; and   wherein the control system is configured to calculate energy savings achieved by turning off or dimming the energy efficient lighting fixtures.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of parts of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises:
 a controller local to at least one subset of the plurality of lighting fixtures and in communication with the at least one sensor;   a master controller in communication with a plurality of the local controllers and configured to conduct the energy savings calculation;   wherein the local controllers make the off or dim decision based on the sensor measurement without communicating to the master controller;   wherein the local controllers include a communications interface configured to communicate on/off or dimming information to the master controller for use in the energy savings calculation.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of parts of  claim 2 , wherein the local controllers comprise a wireless transceiver configured to communicate via wireless transmission. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of parts of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the local controllers is configured to use sensor measurement information received from another local controller via wireless communication to conduct the off or dimming decision. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of parts of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless communication from local controller to local controller does not route through the master controller. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of parts of  claim 5 , wherein each local controller logs on, off, and dimming information and provides such information to the master controller via wireless communication. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of parts of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a device for estimating or metering the actual energy utilized by the plurality of energy efficient lighting fixtures over a period of time.   
     
     
         8 . The kit of parts of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a computer configured to generate an invoice for transmission to an owner or operator of the lighting fixtures, wherein the computer is configured to calculate a payment amount on the invoice by multiplying the estimated or metered actual energy usage over the period of time by a new utility rate, wherein the new utility rate is calculated by the computer and calculated by apportioning a cost associated with the owner or operator's payment of the energy efficient lighting equipment as a function of estimated energy savings per billing interval;   wherein the master controller is configured to transmit the estimated or metered actual energy usage to the computer for the invoice generation.   
     
     
         9 . The kit of parts of  claim 8 , wherein the new utility rate is not applied to actual energy use over time and the generated utility invoice does not request payment for actual energy use over time. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of parts of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a natural lighting feature for installation on a building and for directing natural ambient light into the building environment.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of parts of  claim 10 , wherein the natural lighting feature is a light pipe comprising:
 a reflective tube;   a diffuser mounted proximate a first end of the reflective tube; and   a light collection system mounted proximate a second end of the reflective tube, the second end opposite to the first end, the light collection system configured to direct natural light into the reflective tube.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of parts of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to aggregate information received from the plurality of energy efficient lighting fixtures, and to use the aggregated information to determine how many or which of the plurality of energy efficient lighting fixtures to turn off or dim while maintaining target lighting levels. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of parts of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to predict the potential energy reduction available from turning the energy efficient lighting fixtures off or dimming the energy efficient lighting fixtures. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of parts of  claim 13 , wherein the control system is configured to transmit the potential energy reduction via a communications interface, wherein the control system transmits the potential energy reduction with an offer for another party to purchase the energy reduction. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of parts of  claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to effect the off or dimming behavior in response to another party accepting the transmitted offer. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of parts of  claim 1 , wherein a wireless communication from a first lighting fixture local controller to second lighting fixture local controller does not route through a master controller. 
     
     
         17 . A computer system for invoicing a consumer of energy efficient lighting equipment, the invoicing associated with the consumer's payment of a cost of the energy efficient lighting equipment, comprising:
 a memory configured to store an estimate an energy savings per future period due to the energy efficient lighting equipment;   a processing circuit configured to calculate a new utility rate by apportioning the cost associated with the energy efficient lighting equipment as a function of the estimated energy savings per future period; and   a communications interface configured to receive actual energy use information associated with the energy efficient lighting equipment during a selected period of the future periods;   wherein the processing circuit is configured to calculate an actual energy savings during the selected period using the received actual energy use information and information relating to an old lighting technology;   wherein the processing circuit is further configured to generate a utility invoice for transmission to the consumer, wherein a payment amount on the utility invoice is calculated by multiplying the actual energy savings during the period by the calculated new utility rate.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 17 , wherein the communications interface is configured to receive metered energy usage from a metering device. 
     
     
         19 . A system for invoicing a consumer of energy efficient lighting equipment, comprising:
 a computer configured to generate an invoice for transmission to the consumer, wherein a payment amount on the utility invoice is calculated by the computer and by multiplying an actual energy savings associated with the energy efficient lighting equipment by a new utility rate, wherein the new utility rate is calculated by apportioning a cost associated with the consumer's payment of the energy efficient lighting equipment as a function of estimated energy savings per billing interval.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the new utility rate is not applied to actual energy use over time and the generated utility invoice does not request payment for actual energy use over time.