In 2023, commercial lighting rebates remain a strong driver for adoption of energy-efficient lighting and controls in existing buildings. Notable trends include continuing stability in LED and control rebates, imminent jeopardy for some LED replacement lamp rebates, and growth for networked lighting control and horticultural rebates. A coinciding trend with implications for lighting upgrades is introduction of substantial rebates for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Industry journalist Craig DiLouie recently had the opportunity to interview Thomas Leonard, Vice President, Commercial Controls, and Jeff Beyert, Vice President, Channel Sales & Service, of Leviton for an article about lighting control fundamentals to be published in the July 2023 issue of tED Magazine, the official publication of the NAED. The main question is: What does is the minimum every electrical distributor needs to know to begin to understand the lighting controls category?

Legrand’s DLM Wireless Slim Switches offer flexibility without sacrificing design.

Casambi recently announced its newest feature-rich SoC, CBM-003, which enables new radio modes and longer range up to approximately 650 feet (200 meters) in real-world applications. Casambi is also announcing the production release of three new network component devices based on the new SoC, and the SoC is also already being deployed by dozens of partner companies in hundreds of products in the Casambi ecosystem. Together, these innovations have created a long-range BLE-based mesh network.

In order to meet code compliance, in certain application, vacancy sensing is more suitable than occupancy. MaxLite’s NN-RTVSW network sensor uses the company’s c-Max patented USB-C design to connect with a broad set of MaxLite controls-ready recessed luminaires.

McWong International’s Wireless Room Controller offers a foundation for a room-based, Bluetooth™ mesh networked lighting control solution.

PLC-Multipoint recently announced the CES/I-B, IRIS Photodiode Sensor with Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) compliant output. This indoor sensor provides wireless transmission of daylight levels to a lighting control system per either Casambi or Silvair Bluetooth 5.0 protocol.

The new SWX-804 Series dimming wall station from SENSORWORX provides an attractive and intuitive 0-10V dimming control add-on for a low voltage sensor system.

The DLC recently published a summary of research conducted by Skumatz Economic Research Associates, Inc. (SERA), which identified non-energy benefits (NEBs) of networked lighting controls and developed a methodology for quantifying them.

Atrius, part of Acuity Brands, Inc., recently released its first State of Corporate Sustainability Report, an analysis of how organizations create, enact, and communicate sustainability goals. This year’s report, a survey of sustainability and energy leaders across a dozen industries, reveals that sustainability and technology have intersected to create a new megatrend – an effort to minimize the impacts of climate change while maximizing the impacts of technology.

The Lighting Controls Association is proud to announce the latest offerings in lighting controls from industry-leading manufacturers. Check them out!

nLight, a brand of Acuity Brands, recently published an applications guide for California’s Title 24, Part 6 (2022) energy code.

LEDucation and LightFair are right around the corner, so be sure to register soon for these major industry events, both of which are occurring in New York City this year.

Leviton recently announced the ninth edition of its popular Captain Code Guide, featuring the 2023 changes and additions to the National Electrical Code (NEC®).

Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. recently announced it has entered into an agreement with Biological Innovations and Optimization Systems, LLC (BIOS) to participate in the BIOS ILLUMINATED™ partnership program.

LiteTrace recently announced that it has introduced its Keilton® BH4 Series of sensors, controllers, and receptacles. The BH4 Series is designed to simplify Bluetooth® wireless luminaire level lighting control (LLLC) of commercial indoor and outdoor luminaires, such as panels, troffers, high bays, low bays, area lights, and wallpacks.

Leviton recently introduced its Decora Edge™ line of wiring devices—promising a quick, easy, and safe way to install electrical devices for the home. Compared with traditional switches and outlets, Decora Edge streamlines installation by enabling users to simply push stripped 14-gauge or 12-gauge electrical building wire into a termination port, and close a lever that clicks into place, terminating the connection with confidence.

In this episode of The Lighting Controls Podcast co-produced by the Lighting Controls Association and NAILD, Michael Colligan of Restoring Darkness talks about how lighting controls and smart city projects are a natural fit for eliminating excess light at night.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) is offering more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams across America with winning ideas to accelerate widespread, equitable energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently applauded the bipartisan Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking Act, or “SHIP IT Act,” introduced by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA). The SHIP IT Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at addressing the pain points in the supply chain system, which has impacted the electroindustry’s ability to get products to market in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Leviton recently announced the introduction of Matter support to its award-winning Decora Smart Wi-Fi 2nd Gen portfolio of devices.

To help streamline installations and promote code compliance, Intermatic created the Electronic All-Purpose Contractor Box. The time-saving control offers everything contractors need to get projects off the ground in a ready-made, UL-listed solution.

In this episode of The Lighting Controls Podcast co-produced by the Lighting Controls Association and NAILD and sponsored by McWong International, Kelly Cunningham, program manager on Pacific Gas & Electric’s codes and standards team, talks about energy code development in California.

A major contributor to the economy is construction, which overall exhibited very strong growth in 2022. Despite a strong finish to the year, however, nonresidential construction spending is expected to moderate in 2023 and slow significantly in 2024, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Construction Consensus Forecast Panel made up of leading economic forecasters. The Panel forecasted that nonresidential construction spending will moderate to grow a healthy 5.8% in 2023 but then slow to less than 1% in 2024.

“Maybe you are on a rushed project with barely enough time to finalize the drawings. Perhaps you’re being onboarded years after the project began. Maybe you just have a client who won’t respond to your requests for more information. No matter the reason, a project without an Owner Project Requirements (OPR) can present one of the most common and difficult challenges modern designers face today.”

Current recently announced availability of the NX Dual Tech OMNI (NXSMDT-OMNI) smart occupancy sensor, new to the NX Lighting Controls portfolio designed exclusively for specifiers and contractors.

Lutron Electronics recently announced the availability of the Diva smart dimmer in six colors, and a new Claro accessory smart switch, to the Caséta portfolio of products.

Hydrel® recently announced it will now offer its SAF7 and SAF14 static white architectural floodlights with nLight® AIR wireless lighting controls.

In this episode of The Lighting Controls Podcast co-produced by the Lighting Controls Association and NAILD, Robert Bell, Consulting Director for Product Market at Acuity Brands, talks about how switches designed for entertainment are making their way into architectural lighting and “architainment” applications.

Osram is the first company which has earned the Zhaga-D4i certification for a number of their control devices.

Submissions are now open for the Illuminating Engineering Society’s 2023 Illumination Awards, including the Lighting Control Innovation Award. The deadline for submissions is February 17, 2023.

Leviton recently announced that the company has joined the Green Building Initiative (GBI) as a Visionary member.

The U.S. Department of Energy L-Prize challenges industry to bring forward new innovations to realize the full potential of advanced lighting systems for commercial buildings. The competition has three distinct phases: Concept Phase winners were announced in February 2022, the Prototype Phase opened in June 2022, and the Manufacturing and Installation Phase is expected to open in September 2023. Participation in the Concept Phase is not required to participate in the Prototype Phase. The L-Prize Prototype Phase “Intent to Submit” deadline is January 13, 2023.

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recently announced it has formalized an agreement with the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) to assume management of their Lighting Certified (LC) examination and recertification programs, effective January 1, 2023.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has published a short guide to plug load control and why it should be a common feature of commercial building energy codes.

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

The Zhaga Consortium launched the global Zhaga Smart City Sensor Awards in mid-September to address the needs for innovative sensors of the many cities that have installed Zhaga-D4i certified streetlights. The submission date has now been extended. Sensor manufacturers, innovators as well as universities and students are encouraged to submit their applications by March 3, 2023.

The Lighting Controls Association was founded as a council of NEMA back in 2001 to promote adoption of lighting controls through education. Today, the association continues to make a demonstrable difference in supporting public expertise in selecting, designing, installing, and operating lighting control systems. This article outlines the LCA’s accomplishments in 2022 and offers a preview of what’s to come in 2023.

This month, we explore a sustainable and highly specialized lighting control solution installed at a sensory test kitchen at Simplot Headquarters in Dallas.