Data centre · Lighting
Lighting in data centre: what the SRI measures
For lighting, the SRI does not measure the lamp but the control: does the light switch off when nobody is there, and does it dim with daylight. This is often the cheapest domain to score points in.
In short
- 1This page shows how the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) assesses lighting in a data center.
- 2Lighting is one of three domains in this building type, weighted less heavily than cooling and flexibility.
- 3Yet this domain is often the cheapest to improve, using simple occupancy and daylight controls.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupancy control for indoor lighting L-1a · A · 4 levels | Manual on/off switch | Automatic detection (manual on / dimmed or auto off) | at least level 1 |
| Control artificial lighting power based on daylight levels L-2 · 5 levels | Manual (central) | Automatic dimming including scene-based light control (during time intervals, dynamic and adapted lighting scenes are set, for example, in terms of illuminance level, different correlated colour temperature (CCT) and the possibility to change the light distribution within the space according to e.g. design, human needs, visual tasks) | – |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 6 percentage points (from 30 to 36 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
Why does lighting count in a data center?
A data center consumes energy mainly for cooling and electricity. Server rooms run continuously and use most power there. Still, the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) also reviews lighting in corridors, office spaces, and technical zones.
In the SRI methodology, every building is divided into nine domains, each with its own weighting factor. For a data center, lighting carries relatively low weight: one of three domains that matter most for this building type. Heating, hot water, and building envelope play little role in this type of facility.
What exactly does the SRI measure in lighting?
The SRI does not rate the lamp itself, but the control system around it. Does the light turn off automatically when a room is empty? Does brightness adjust based on daylight?
Two smart-ready services apply to this domain. The first, occupancy control for interior lighting, ranges from level 0 (manual switch) to level 3 (automatic detection with manual on and automatic off). The second service, artificial light power control based on daylight level, runs from level 0 (fully manual) to level 4, where scene-based light control automatically adjusts to time, task, or room use.
Each level is tested against seven impact criteria, including energy efficiency and ease of use. Three key functionalities carry equal weight.
Why is this domain relatively simple to improve?
In many buildings, including data centers, automatic occupancy detection is missing in corridors and secondary spaces. Adding sensors and dimming controls requires few changes compared to cooling systems or electrical infrastructure.
For a data center where cooling and monitoring already perform well, lighting improvements can be a relatively quick way to raise the total SRI score. It remains a limited part of the overall picture, given its low weighting factor in this building type.
What this means for you
- Owner
- As the owner of a data center, it makes sense to check occupancy detection and daylight control in corridors and secondary spaces, since these are low-cost improvements within a domain that otherwise receives little attention. Focus most on domains that carry higher weight, such as cooling and flexibility, before lighting becomes a priority.
- Tenant
- As a tenant or user of office or technical space in a data center, you will mainly notice lights turning on and off automatically with occupancy, and possibly adjusting to daylight. This has little impact on the data center's total energy use, which is driven mainly by cooling.
- Advisor
- When assessing this domain, keep in mind the weighting factor of 1 out of 3: improvements in lighting have limited effect on a data center's total SRI score. For each smart-ready service, check the current functionality level and see whether simple upgrades, such as automatic occupancy detection, are feasible without major changes to building automation systems.
Next step
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