“As the lighting industry attempts to morph from its conventional role of illumination and become more of a provider of smart networks that collect data through chips and sensors embedded in the lighting infrastructure, it should focus its sales efforts on IT groups rather than on the customary facilities departments,” Mark Halper writes for LEDs Magazine.
“While the majority of installations today are distributed high voltage (between 110V and 347V), the emergence of solid-state lighting technology has brought into question whether this is the most practical and efficient way to feed future lighting systems … In general illumination application, there are currently two core approaches to operating luminaires directly from low voltage DC power. Emerge Alliance 24VDC distributed, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The two approaches employ distinctly different control approaches.”
The Internet of Things at a glance, focusing on the lighting and control system. Data from sensors in a networked lighting system flows to a server or the Cloud, where it is analyzed at a workstation that in turn is used for lighting management. Data can also be shared with other building systems and third-party software. The shown lighting and control system is readily achievable today. What happens beyond to create a single smart building that harvests and translates data into meaningful action is developing. Image courtesy of Cree.
Networked control and connected luminaire manufacturers are now promoting their products as “IoT enabled.” This means when the IoT does arrive, the lighting system will stand ready to play a part in it without significant additional cost. The converse may also be regarded as true, which is without connected lighting, any new LED lighting may instantly become obsolete after installation.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2018 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to Wattstopper’s DLM wireless room-based lighting control system.
In this guest post, Paul Rudalavage, Synergy Electrical Sales summarizes five key areas to understand and explore when purchasing a lighting control system.
“If you are a regular reader of Lighting Controls Association blog posts, then you know that networked lighting control systems (NLCs) are really computer networks – they just happen to control luminaires, occupancy sensors, photosensors and light switches. The paradigm shift for lighting control systems has occurred at lightning-fast speed in recent years … However, once you decide to piggyback onto an existing IT network, you are in the domain of the IT staff who works for the building’s owner.”
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE DECISIONS recently ran an article contributed by the Lighting Controls Association on how to apply lighting controls to existing buildings.
Image courtesy of Lutron Electronics.
Software plays a central role in commissioning, operating, and analyzing data collected by networked lighting control systems. As connected lighting becomes more popular, manufacturers continue to make their software simpler, more robust, more portable, and require less training. Software is a major touch point regarding the lighting control system serving either as a platform or an integral part of implementing the Internet of Things in commercial buildings.
“I recently wrote about how lighting energy allowances under current codes are now approaching a practical minimum, thanks to significant improvements in source efficacy, optical efficiency, and controls that automatically extinguish lighting when it is not needed.”
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2018 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to Hubbell’s PowerHUBB Power Over Ethernet (PoE) Lighting & Control System.
The TALQ Consortium reveals in a White Paper recently published a whitepaper detailing insights into its global interface standard and certification scheme for managing smart city applications including outdoor lighting networks.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2018 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to Wattstopper’s service contracts program.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently published NEMA LSD 79-2018 Predicted Energy Savings from Lighting Systems, a new white paper that includes a framework used to gauge the effectiveness of different lighting control methods.
Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently interviewed Gary Trott, VP of Intelligent Lighting and IoT Platform, Cree for an article for the October issue of tED Magazine, the official publication of the NAED. The topic: connected lighting’s potential role in the Internet of Things.
On July 26, 2018 the International Code Council published the 2018 version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which has been updated every three years since 2000. This 2018 version reduces lighting power allowances, broadens mandatory controls requirements, and issues clarifications.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2018 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to WaveLinx connected wireless lighting control by Eaton Corporation.
To simplify the process of gaining certificates, Education Express now offers two. One for AIA LU/HSW credit, and one for all others on the same PDF certificate. We took this step to simplify the certificates, reduce student paperwork, and make a cleaner appearance on the My Classroom page.
Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently interviewed Jamie Britnell, Director of Product Marketing – Lighting, Synapse Wireless for an article about the Internet of Things, which will be published in the October issue of tED Magazine.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2018 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to the Ketra lighting control solution by Lutron Electronics.
With the right combination of dimmer and solid-state driver for LED products, dimming performance can achieve excellent results from 100% all the way to dark, smoothly and predictably, says Kevin Willmorth in his latest exclusive contribution. However, when the combination is wrong, many undesirable effects may occur, he points out. Investigating the reasons for these issues requires a basic understanding of where issues can arise.
Scott Ziegenfus, manager of government and industry relations at Hubbell Lighting, recently contributed an insightful article to LD+A Magazine about how lighting specifiers should approach a dialogue with client IT departments when specifying a networked lighting control system.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA IOTP 1-2018 Standby Power of Connected Devices and the Internet of Things. This new white paper explores the conflict between limitations on what is commonly referred to as standby power, and the potential services and benefits of connected devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
Stacks+Joules is a non-profit workforce training program designed to prepare high school seniors for jobs in the building automation field. This article by LCA Education Director Craig DiLouie describes the program and the role LCA’s Education Express plays in it.
This guest post by Steve Mesh introduces the new Lighting Controls Association troubleshooting guide for networked lighting control systems.
Eaton’s The Lighting Resource recently published an article about dimming LED lamps and luminaires.
Hubbell’s Summer Albergotti and Marissa Keisler contributed an article to Facilities.net, “Human-Centric Lighting for Schools, Hospitals, and Offices.” The article describes how color tuning enables lighting systems to better serve the needs of users and spaces.
Table 2. Popular lighting control rebates. Source: BriteSwitch North American Rebate and Incentive Database, February 2018.
The most popular lighting control rebates continue to be occupancy sensors, light sensors, and daylight dimming systems. The average rebate for controls is fairly high when one considers their cost, positioning them as an attractive add-on to a retrofit. In some cases, such as high-bay lighting, the rebate can almost completely cover the cost of adding a luminaire-mounted occupancy sensor.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2017 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to Wattstopper’s Humancentric Lighting solution.
“Coexistence,” “interchangeability,” and “standby power” are samples of some of the terms featured in Lighting Systems Terms and Definitions, a new publication by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
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.
This article by Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP, published in the March 2018 issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, describes the latest developments in lighting control software.
Several Education Express online courses offered by the Lighting Controls Association are now required as prerequisites for National Lighting Contractors Association of America (NLCAA) certification and training of Acceptance Test Technicians in the State of California.
California has been a historical leader in terms of state energy codes. California’s Title 24 has led the way by restricting allowable LPDs (Lighting Power Density) as well as mandating specific types of lighting controls. This article by Steve Mesh introduces the Title 24 energy code and its lighting control requirements.
The Lighting Controls Association is proud to offer an advance look at a selection of new products that will be displayed by members at LIGHTFAIR International May 6-10, 2018 in Chicago. While some can be seen here, many more await at member booths, so be sure to visit! SYNAPSE WIRELESS DIM10-087-06 The DIM10-087-06 adds the [...]
Networked lighting control is an important emerging trend in lighting control. However, these systems may be more complex than traditional solutions. In response, the Lighting Controls Association has created a generic troubleshooting guide for networked lighting control systems, currently available free as a V1.0 beta version.
Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP, recently had the pleasure of interviewing Jamie Britnell, Senior Product Manager, Synapse Wireless, Inc. about lighting control software for articles for ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR and tED. Click to read the interview.
Image courtesy of Schneider Electric
The Lighting Controls Association (LCA), a council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), has re-released EE110: Commissioning and Lighting Controls, a course in its popular Education Express program.
If you’re installing a lighting control system in 2018, you have to be concerned about cyber security. Why? Very simply – because many current lighting control systems are networked.
Image courtesy of Audacy Wireless Lighting Control
The Lighting Controls Association (LCA) now offers EE301: Wireless Lighting Controls, as a new course in its popular Education Express program.
Image courtesy of Audacy Wireless Lighting Control
For input devices and luminaire controllers to interact in many applications, a signal pathway is needed. This may be wiring or, more recently, wireless, with control signals sent through the air. This approach eliminates the need for control wiring, resulting in significant benefits, particularly in existing buildings. Using wireless communication, control devices can communicate as discrete devices or as part of networked systems. Click to read this article by Steve Mesh, LC and Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP.
In this episode of The Lighting Controls Podcast sponsored by MaxLite, hosts C. Webster Marsh and Ron Kuzmar interview Gary Meshberg, Chair of the Lighting Controls Academy, and Legrand’s Harold Jepsen, Vice Chair of the NEMA Lighting Controls Technical Section about the evolving world of lighting controls and a groundbreaking new Control Intent Narrative/Sequence of Operations Tool offered by the Lighting Controls Academy.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2025 LEDucation event in New York City, introduces LiteTrace’s EmerLite™, a wireless platform revolutionizing emergency lighting compliance for commercial facilities.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2025 LEDucation event in New York City, introduces Lutron’s Athena lighting control system.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2025 LEDucation event in New York City, introduces Legrand’s Wattstopper i3 Platform, a next-generation lighting and building intelligence solution powered by KODE Labs.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2025 LEDucation event in New York City, introduces Barron Lighting’s Guardian G3 Wireless Reporting and Monitoring Solution.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2025 LEDucation event in New York City, introduces IR-TEC America’s Bluetooth programming capability for the company’s sensors.
In this educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2025 LEDucation event in New York City, Ray Dableh, CEO of JDRF Electromag, demonstrates the company’s Autonomy Lighting System, a self-configuring luminaire-level lighting control (LLLC) system.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2025 LEDucation event in New York City, introduces new products in Current’s NX Lighting Controls line–including NX Site Manager, an intuitive and easy-to-use GUI providing real-time programming and management.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2025 LEDucation event in New York City, introduces Barron Lighting’s LiteLogic Lighting Controls.
This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2025 LEDucation event in New York City, introduces IR-TEC America’s OS-NET Wireless Lighting Controls Solution.
©2025 Lighting Controls Academy, a coalition of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. Information published at this website has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Damages arising from errors, omissions or damages as from the use or misuse of this information are not the responsibility of NEMA nor its vendors. It is not the intent of this site to provide professional services.
This site rocks with Focus.