The Impact of Lighting Automation on Energy Savings

Reducing energy consumption has become a top priority in today’s increasingly energy-conscious world. Lighting automation is an innovative solution for saving energy and lower electricity costs. Incorporating lighting automation systems offers numerous benefits that can positively impact industrial and commercial settings. In this blog post, we will explore the profound impact of lighting automation on energy savings. We will discuss how lighting automation reduces energy consumption and highlight its importance in achieving sustainability goals.

Types of Lighting Automation Systems

Occupancy-Based Control

One key feature of lighting automation is occupancy-based control. The lighting system can detect human presence in a room or area by incorporating motion sensors and occupancy detectors. This enables the lights to turn on automatically when someone enters and turn off when the space is vacant. Avoiding unnecessary lighting in unoccupied areas minimizes energy waste, leading to significant energy savings.

Daylight Harvesting

Lighting automation systems can be integrated with daylight sensors to optimize artificial lighting levels based on the availability of natural light. These sensors measure the intensity of daylight entering a space and adjust the artificial lighting accordingly. When sufficient daylight is detected, the system can dim or turn off the lights, reducing energy consumption. This intelligent control strategy, daylight harvesting, saves energy and enhances the occupants’ visual comfort.

Time-Based Scheduling

Lighting automation allows lighting operations to be scheduled based on specific times of the day or week. Programming the system to activate lights only when needed and to turn them off during inactivity significantly reduces energy consumption. Time-based scheduling ensures that lights are not left on unnecessarily, contributing to substantial energy savings over time.

A commercial space with lighting automation scheduled based on specific times of the day.A

Zone Control

Lighting automation systems can divide a building into different zones, allowing customized lighting control in each area. This enables the optimization of lighting levels based on each zone’s requirements. By adjusting the lighting intensity or turning off lights in areas that are not in use, energy usage is minimized. Zone control ensures that energy is directed where needed, reducing wastage and maximizing efficiency.

The Impact of Lighting Automation on Energy Savings

Adaptive Lighting

Some advanced lighting automation systems offer adaptive lighting capabilities. These systems dynamically adjust lighting levels based on the activity or task being performed in a space. By providing the right amount of light for specific activities, energy is well-spent on excessive illumination. Adaptive lighting ensures optimal lighting conditions while minimizing energy consumption.

Integration with Other Systems

Lighting automation can be integrated with building management systems, such as HVAC and security. This integration allows for coordinated control, where lighting adjusts based on occupancy, daylight availability, and other environmental factors. By optimizing the overall energy usage in a building, lighting automation contributes to energy efficiency and helps lower electricity bills.

A commercial space with lighting automation scheduled based on specific times of the day.

Lighting automation is a powerful tool for achieving energy savings and promoting sustainability. Adopting technologies like occupancy-based control, daylight harvesting, and adaptive lighting supports our sustainability goals and paves the way for smarter, more responsive buildings. At Current Group, our cutting-edge systems are designed to integrate seamlessly into your existing infrastructure, impacting your energy consumption and cost savings. With a focus on reliability, user-friendliness, and comprehensive support, we ensure that transitioning to an automated lighting system is smooth and rewarding. Contact us today for your lighting automation solutions.

As winter approaches, cattle ranchers face the critical challenge of ensuring their herds maintain optimal health and growth despite the harsh conditions. One often overlooked factor is the temperature of drinking water, which plays a significant role in the overall well-being and productivity of range cattle during cold months. In this article, we will explore how water temperature impacts water consumption and growth performance and how Current Group’s Open2O cattle trough heater can make a difference by preventing freezing and ensuring water availability.

The Impact of Access to Water on Cattle Health

Research consistently shows that water availability is critical to cattle’s water intake, especially during winter. Frozen water can drastically reduce consumption, as cattle cannot access the necessary water. This leads to dehydration and increased energy expenditure, as cattle use more energy to maintain their body temperature in the cold. 

This increase in water intake is crucial because it correlates with higher dry matter intake (DMI), which is essential for maintaining body weight and overall health during the cold season.

According to Jon DeClerck, Ph.D., cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition, “Water is the most essential nutrient for cattle production,” says “It’s used for regulating body temperature, growth, reproduction, lactation, digestion and many other bodily functions. Water also drives intake for mineral, forage and supplements. And while we typically worry more about water intake in summer, it’s equally as important in cold weather.”

“For fall calving herds, water requirements go up drastically during lactation. Cows hit peak lactation right when water is at risk of freezing up. With spring calving herds, water access is key to avoid stress and long-term performance impacts to both the cow and unborn calf.”

Consequences of Inadequate Water Intake in Winter

When cattle do not have consistent access to water due to freezing conditions, the consequences can be severe. Insufficient water intake leads to dehydration, reduced feed intake (which affects nutrition), and poor growth performance. Instead, energy that should be used for growth is used to maintain body temperature, leading to weight loss and a decline in body condition. Additionally, water shortages can disrupt rumen fermentation, nutrient absorption, and overall cattle health, further compromising productivity.

Ideal Water Temperature and its Effect on Your Herd

Ensuring that water is available to cattle throughout winter is crucial to their hydration and growth. However, a balance needs to be met in terms of your water temperature.

Kate Hornyak, OSU Extension Program Coordinator, Delaware County, says, Keeping the ideal temperature of drinking water for cattle is a balance – it should neither be hot nor frozen.” – “It’s interesting to note that steers with access to cool drinking water have shown to gain an additional 0.3 to 0.4 pounds per day compared to those consuming warmer water. This underscores the importance of regularly checking the temperature of water, especially in waterers equipped with heaters, to avoid what’s known as a “runaway” – a situation where the water gets too warm.”

Cattle Trough Heater Open2O: Preventing Frozen Water

To address the challenges of water freezing during the cold season, Current Group offers the Open2O advanced electric device, an innovative solution designed to monitor water temperature and regulate the power to the heating element. Unlike traditional heating systems that continuously warm water, Open2O ensures that water remains just above freezing, reducing energy consumption and ensuring that cattle always have access to water.

Features of Open2O Water Controller

  • Power Savings: The Cattle Trough Heater Open2O has multiple temperature inputs, which allows it to monitor water temperature every 30 seconds and turn on the heating elements only as needed. This optimized control has been proven to cut substantial power usage, with an estimated minimum of 53% power savings.
  • Real-Time Water Consumption Report: The Cattle Trough Heater Open2O system provides real-time reports on water consumption, which allows cattle operators to monitor water intake per animal. This data helps identify potential issues early on, as it compares water usage across different troughs, signalling if a problem arises with any specific bowl. Accurate water consumption data supports better animal health analysis, ensuring every animal is adequately hydrated.
  • Alarm Options for Consumption and Temperature: The Cattle Trough Heater Open2O has alarm options that alert operators to unusual consumption patterns—whether too high or too low—indicating potential issues like a broken water line. The system also notifies operators if the water temperature drops too close to freezing.
  • Labour and Stress Reduction: With Open2O’s remote monitoring capabilities, feedlot operators no longer need to send staff out in cold temperatures to check water bowls. Instead, they can view the software and confirm that all water sources remain open, reducing labour costs and management stress year-round.

 

With these features, Open2O provides a comprehensive solution to prevent water bowls from freezing, monitor water consumption, and support cattle health through the cold months.

Critical Benefits of Cattle Trough Heater Open2O

  • Prevents Water from Freezing: Open2O ensures that water remains accessible, avoiding water freezing in bowls.
  • Energy Efficiency: By regulating the power to the heating element, Open2O conserves energy, reducing costs while maintaining water availability.
  • Durability and Reliability: Built to withstand harsh winter conditions, Open2O ensures uninterrupted access to water throughout the cold months.
  • Improved Growth Performance: By preventing frozen water, Open2O supports cattle hydration, feed utilization, and overall growth performance.


Providing unfrozen drinking water during winter is more than just a comfort for cattle—it’s essential to maintaining their health and growth. With the Open2O device from Current Group, ranchers can ensure that their cattle have continuous access to water, even in the coldest months. Invest in cattle trough heater Open2O today to secure your herd’s health and boost your bottom line this winter.