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

A computerized method for using a lighting system to displace energy, comprising:

• receiving information from a light sensor configured to measure an amount of light provided from a natural lighting fixture to a building environment;
• providing the received information to processing electronics configured to use the received information to determine when the amount of light provided from the natural lighting fixture exceeds a first threshold or exceeds a second threshold greater than the first threshold;
• using the processing electronics to cause an output of a first group of the one or more electric lighting fixtures to reduce in response to a determination that the amount of light provided from the natural lighting fixture exceeds the first threshold;
• using the processing electronics to cause the output of the first group of one or more electric lighting fixtures and an output of a second group of one of more electric lighting fixtures to reduce in response to a determination that the amount of light provided from the natural lighting fixture exceeds the second threshold;
• using the processing electronics to calculate the energy saved from reducing the output of the one or more electric lighting fixtures;
• and
• communicating results of the calculation of energy saved from the processing electronics to a second party for completing a financial transaction.

A lighting system for displacing energy, comprising:

• a light sensor configured to measure an amount of light provided from a natural lighting fixture to a building environment;
• processing electronics configured 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;
• wherein the processing electronics are further configured to calculate the energy saved from turning off or dimming the one or more lighting fixtures;
• and
• a communications interface configured to:
• transmit the results of the calculation of energy saved from the processing electronics to a second party for completing a financial transaction;
• and
• receive information identifying a peaking time period from a remote source,
• wherein the processing electronics are configured to check for potential energy displacement in response to the information identifying the peaking time period;
• and
• wherein the processing electronics conducts the check by comparing the amount of light provided from the natural lighting fixtures of the building environment to a threshold minimum value.