In September, California passed SB-327, a cybersecurity law that will affect manufacturers of Internet of Things (IoT) and operational technology (OT) devices.

This article at Eaton’s THE SOURCE website provides an insightful look at how connected lighting can facilitate space optimization.

In August 2018, the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) released Energy Savings Potential of DLC Commercial Lighting and Networked Lighting Controls, which projects energy savings for LED commercial lighting and networked lighting controls. The report makes a case that to continue getting big energy savings from lighting for another decade, utility rebate program administrators should transition to supporting LED luminaires and networked controls.

This educational video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2018 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to Lutron Electronics’ Enterprise Vue lighting control system.

In this guest post, LCA contributor Steve Mesh describes the “non-energy benefits” of connected lighting, which can add extraordinary value far beyond energy savings.

“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.”

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.

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.

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 [...]