Described is a method for optimizing the energy efficiency of a building system, such as a lighting system, including a plurality of energy consuming devices, such as light sources. The method includes the steps of defining a set of parameters for the building system, and, typically, using a linear programming technique, taking into account the set of parameters, to produce energy allocation output data which satisfies a total energy consumption constraint that the total energy allocated to the building system not exceed a target energy consumption level, and which is representative of an optimal allocation of energy to each of said energy consuming devices. In general, the energy optimization problem is translated into a linear programming problem by formulating a set of system energy allocation constraints, converting these constraints into a set of constraint equations and a cost function, converting the constraint equations into a set of simultaneous linear equations, and then solving the set of simultaneous linear equations in such a manner as to minimize the cost function, to thereby produce the energy allocation output data, which is preferably in the form of an optimal brightness level for each light source. These steps are preferably implemented in computer software, which is preferably loaded in a programmable central controller of an intelligent lighting control system or building system which is responsive to the energy allocation output data for automatically adjusting the energy consumption level of each of the energy consuming devices. Preferably, available energy remaining after satisfying minimum energy requirement levels for each room is allocated at least partially on the basis of the designated priority level of each room, and/or the energy efficiency of the energy consuming devices. |