Lighting Controls in Healthcare—From Energy Savings to Infection Prevention

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Lighting Controls in Healthcare—From Energy Savings to Infection Prevention

Modern hospitals and clinics are under pressure to cut energy use, streamline operations, and strengthen patient outcomes—all while meeting stringent safety and code requirements. Networked lighting controls are one of the few technologies that can advance all three goals at once.[1]

 

Why Lighting Controls Matter

 

• Reduce energy spend: Occupancy sensors, scheduled shutoff, and daylight‑responsive dimming can trim lighting energy 30–60% without affecting care.[2]

 

• Support infection‑prevention protocols: Touch‑free switches and sensor‑based control points remove a high‑touch surface, helping limit fomite transmission in patient areas, and restrooms.[3]

 

• Enhance patient comfort and staff alertness: Tunable‑white scenes that align with circadian rhythms, paired with intuitive scene selectors at the nurses’ station, improve rest‑wake cycles, and nurse performance.[1]

 

• Speed troubleshooting: Central dashboards flag failed drivers or lamps long before a room is dark, freeing maintenance staff for more critical tasks.[5]

 

Proven Control Strategies

 

1. Wireless (BLE or Zigbee) Retrofits
   Gateway‑free Bluetooth® fixtures eliminate extra cabling and IT work. In a Boston hospital retrofit, fixture‑level BLE controls saved over 800,000 kWh per year and unlocked $250,000 in utility incentives.[5]

 

1. Touchless Occupancy and Daylight Sensors
   PIR or microwave sensors automatically dim or switch lights based on presence and daylight, removing wall‑switch touchpoints.[3]

 

1. Preset Scenes for Care Routines
   In ORs and patient rooms, one‑button presets—Examination, Rest, Cleaning—speed workflow while preserving code‑required light levels. [1]

 

1. Enterprise Monitoring and Analytics
   Networked controls provide real‑time status, load reports, and automated testing logs that simplify compliance documentation.[2]

 

 

Bottom Line

Smart lighting controls are no longer a “nice to have.” They are a foundational element of modern healthcare design, simultaneously driving energy efficiency, infection prevention, and better patient experiences. LiteSource offers an extensive line of lighting controls for healthcare. Contact us and we can help.

 

Sources

1. ANSI/IES RP‑29‑22: Lighting Hospital and Healthcare Facilities.
2. ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1‑2022 (Read‑only access) and Standard overview.
3. “Touchless Technology Helps Facilitate Infection Prevention Best Practices,” Infection Control Today.
4. NFPA 101: Life Safety Code (2024) — NFPA LiNK preview and NFPA free access (registration required).
5. Avi‑on Case Study: “Hospital Reduces Energy Consumption and Receives Huge Rebate”.

 

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