The Lighting Controls Association (LCA), a council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, has released a new and updated version of EE107B: Lighting Controls and Commercial Lighting Rebates as a new course in its popular Education Express program.

The Lighting Controls Association now offers EE107B: Lighting Controls and Commercial Lighting Rebates as a new course in its popular Education Express program.

In May 2016, the DesignLights Consortium® (DLC) released V.1.0 of its Networked Lighting Control Systems Specification, which formed the basis of a new Qualified Lighting Products List (QPL). The intent was to provide utilities and energy efficiency programs a resource to qualify networked lighting control systems so they could be covered in commercial sector lighting [...]

While prescriptive lighting rebates have significantly promoted adoption of energy-efficient lighting and controls, the custom rebate option offers a potentially highly lucrative path, particularly in projects with advanced lighting controls.

Rebate fulfillment firm BriteSwitch recently published a short article on its website about new utility rebates promoting networked lighting controls. Since the introduction of the DLC’s Networked Lighting Controls Qualified Products List, utilities have been trying to decide how to include these control systems in their programs.

By Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP Many utilities offer incentive programs to customers to get them to use less energy. This is based on the premise that it is often cheaper to pay customers to use less energy than to build new generating capacity to satisfy future power demand. The simplest and most popular type of [...]

About two-thirds (64%) of the United States is covered by prescriptive lighting rebates, according to BriteSwitch, a rebate fulfillment company. These rebates can significantly reduce the installed cost of new lighting in existing buildings and improve payback by 20-25%, which would reduce a two-year payback to about 1.5 years. Rebates became popular in the 1990s [...]

Demand for electricity in the United States has gone up in all but four years since 1949. The Department of Energy predicts growth in capacity of 0.6% per year through the year 2040. Many states and utilities have long considered energy efficiency a resource for satisfying growing demand. According to a study by the American [...]

Utility and regional energy efficiency organization rebates and incentives have been a major driver in demand for energy-efficient lighting and controls since the early 1990s. Today, more than $6 billion in commercial lighting rebates and other incentives are offered by utilities and energy efficiency organizations covering some 80% of the United States. Currently, rebates and [...]

The new incarnation of the Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction offers a strong incentive to stretching energy efficiency in new buildings and modernizing existing buildings. In new buildings, it incentivizes more detailed design and the most advanced control options. In existing buildings, it incentivizes a wide range of lighting and advanced control options that, when coupled with available utility rebates, can substantially reduce initial cost that remains the largest inhibitor to investment in reducing operating costs via energy efficiency.

The DesignLights Consortium’s (DLC) new report, Energy Savings from Networked Lighting Control (NLC) Systems, estimates average lighting energy savings of 47% resulting from installation of networked lighting control systems. The report indicates high potential energy savings for networked controls, supports layered control strategies as a means to maximize savings, and may be used to justify new and larger utility rebates. Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP breaks it down in this month’s featured article.

The primary legacy source for general lighting in most school spaces is fluorescent. These can be replaced by LED products for 20 to 60 percent energy savings, greater longevity, controllability, and improved quality of light. A lighting upgrade is the ideal time to install advanced lighting controls to enhance energy savings and flexibility in light levels and color.

It’s an LED world now; traditional sources are just living in it. The next frontier of energy savings lies in bringing the lighting controls revolution to mainstream adoption in existing buildings via best practices.

Growing demand for plug-in electric vehicles is likely to coincide with the significant adoption of EV charging stations in commercial buildings. If true, the economics of lighting upgrades may change, putting all energy efficiency options on the table, including those previously limited by payback thresholds.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Paul Drosihn, General Manager, DALI Alliance. The topic: the recently introduced D4i global standard.

Luminaire-level lighting controls (LLLC), also called embedded controls, are lighting control systems in which sensors and controllers are installed within luminaires to enable autonomous, individual luminaire control. By making each luminaire a control point, control is highly flexible, responsive, and therefore generally more energy-saving. Serving as a preview for an upcoming Education Express course, this article describes LLLC technology, system types, advantages and disadvantages, studies characterizing energy savings and cost, and what’s familiar and distinctive in regards to design and installation.

Synapse Wireless, Inc., a member of the McWane family of companies, recently expanded its integration path for LED Luminaires with the launch of the ZHA-S1 Twist Lock Zhaga Controller.

Synapse Wireless, Inc., a member of the McWane family of companies, recently announced an online search tool for locating utility rebate incentives that are available when utilizing DLC 5.0 Networked Lighting Control solutions.

In A National Roadmap for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings, DOE outlines its national goal to triple the energy efficiency and demand flexibility of buildings by 2030. A subsequent report, published in December 2019, specifically evaluates the potential for lighting and electronics (primarily consumer plus IT equipment) to optimize energy efficiency and comfort while providing services back to the grid. This article examines lighting’s potential to support grid interactivity, primarily in the form of networked lighting controls and automated demand response.

This article, based on the Lighting Controls Association’s new Education Express course EE202: Automatic Plug Load Control, provides an overview of approaches used to automatically control plug loads in commercial buildings.

Douglas Lighting Controls®, a member of the Panasonic family of companies, recently announced its Dialog® eco-system has been approved by DesignLights® Consortium and in their Qualified Products List (QPL) under Network Lighting Controls (NLC). The Dialog listing covers all Douglas Dialog products, including Dialog Centralized and Distributed Systems, Bluetooth Network System, and CheckLight® Energy Management System.

This article produced by Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP for the May 2018 issue of tED Magazine presents a roundtable by lighting experts talking about the impact of connected lighting.

When evaluating an existing lighting system, the owner can do nothing, something or everything. Doing nothing abandons operating cost savings. Doing something entails replacing lamps and installing some automatic controls. Doing everything involves installing a new lighting and control system. As many owners opt for the “something” option, demand for LED replacement lamps continues to [...]

Traditionally, outdoor lighting was automatically turned ON and OFF at the circuit level by an astronomical time switch or photosensor. Energy codes are now promoting power reduction during dusk-to-dawn lighting operation. Coupled with advances in wireless communication and intelligent control, the result is dramatic changes in how outdoor lighting is controlled. New construction Twenty-four states [...]

Outdoor lighting controls is undergoing a mini-revolution that offers new design and selling opportunities while challenging electrical professionals to stay on top of technological change. Traditionally, outdoor lighting control was relatively simple. A typical scheme featured a controller providing automatic ON/OFF based on time of day (using an astronomical time switch) or daylight (photosensor). The [...]

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created the Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction (CBTD) to encourage owner investment in energy-efficient building systems. The CBTD establishes a special tax deduction rewarding investment in energy-efficient interior lighting, HVAC/hot water systems and building envelope, subject to a cap of up to $1.80/sq.ft. It’s an accelerated tax deduction, meaning [...]

As the market for replacing traditional light sources with LED becomes more challenging, a new market is developing around upgrade of early-generation LED installations. This presents an opportunity to achieve greater energy savings, enhance lighting quality, and integrate advanced lighting controls. Supported by a small number of new commercial lighting rebates that are likely to expand in availability, this trend appears certain to grow.

Saving energy while reducing skyglow, light trespass, and glare, lighting controls have emerged as a critical component of responsible outdoor lighting. In this article, we’ll make the case.

As lighting control becomes more robust and easier to apply, today’s electrical distributor has extraordinary choice in servicing new construction projects and enhancing lighting upgrades. Manufacturers point to top trends including greater networked controls interoperability, systems integration, powerful digital LED drivers, wireless control, and growing application of control as a tool to enhance the occupant experience.

In 2024, commercial lighting rebates remain a strong incentive for adoption of energy-efficient lighting and controls in existing buildings. Notable trends in prescriptive rebates include continuing widespread availability, softening demand for rebate dollars, more bonus programs, generally increasing average rebate amounts, and strengthening of networked lighting control rebates.

The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) recently announced the formation of a Horticultural Lighting Controls Technical Working Group that will advise and assist the DLC in efforts aimed at accelerating the horticultural lighting industry’s transition to optimized energy and production practices through networked lighting solutions.

Dan Hollenkamp, COO of Toggled, recently made five very interesting predictions regarding the development of the smart buildings market in 2024.

As first-generation LED lighting systems begin to be replaced, a significant opportunity to maximize energy savings by incorporating networked lighting controls is emerging, particularly when HVAC integration is included, according to a new report by the DesignLights Consortium.

Everywhere, we see signs the LED revolution has won. An argument can be made, however, that this mature lighting technology is simply entering its next phase of market opportunity. Call it LED Revolution 2.0.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently interviewed Brendon Van Campen, Senior Sales Director, Lutron Electronics, for an article about lighting controls trending toward simplicity.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Chris Udall, Senior Project Manager, Lutron Electronics about how electrical distributors can position themselves to sell networked lighting controls.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Martin Mercier, Marketing Manager, IOT/Connected Systems, Cooper Lighting Solutions. The topic: how electrical distributors can position and sell networked lighting controls.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently enjoyed the opportunity to interview Jamie Britnell, Director of Product Marketing, Synapse Wireless for an article about how electrical distributors can sell networked lighting controls to LED upgrade customers, increasing revenues and service value.

SensorSwitch™ recently announced its Just One Touch (JOT) wireless solution is now listed on the DesignLights Consortium® (DLC) Qualified Products List under the category of Networked Lighting Control Systems. JOT enables single touch pairing of JOT enabled controls, luminaires, and other lighting controls capabilities without the need for 0-10V dimming wires, mobile apps, or additional software.