Roy Harvey, LC of OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc., SSL Electronics & Infrastructure Standards & Regulatory Affairs Vice-chair of ASC C137 and Head of C137.1 Ad Hoc Group, recently contributed a blog post to UL.com describing the C137 standard. This standard covers a 0-10V analog interface between dimmable LED drivers, fluorescent ballasts and dimming controls. Click here [...]

A complete stand-alone wireless system to control lights in a variety of applications. The system includes wireless fixture controllers, switches, and occupancy/daylight sensors all using Bluetooth® wireless technology. Also available is a fixture mounted controller and sensor with Bluetooth technology providing wireless communication and occupancy/daylight control in one device. Click here to learn more.

The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) has completed its “Intelligent Buildings and the Impact of the Internet of Things” research project, conducted by IHS Markit. Intelligent Buildings Council, a core working council of CABA, commissioned the landmark research project to examine the impact of IoT related to intelligent buildings. The research report provides actionable data [...]

In a feature article recently published in ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP describes the basics of outdoor lighting control, energy code requirements and advanced options such as wireless networks, which can generate unprecedented opportunities for control and information. Check it out here.

A team of faculty and graduate students from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Center for Lighting Enabled Systems & Applications (LESA) and Boston University was awarded a U.S. patent titled “Sensory Lighting System and Method for Characterizing an Illumination Space.” The patent describes how the LED lighting system in a space can detect occupants’ presence, location, [...]

Guest post by Steve Mesh, LC Because of recent trends in the lighting industry, it is now possible to “dial in” a desired color temperature in certain light fixtures at specific times of the day or night. One of the main trends making this possible is the mixture of different color LEDs in architectural fixtures. [...]

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 [...]

This short video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2016 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to the SNAP mesh network lighting control solution by Synapse Wireless. Click here to learn more.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Manuel Oomen, Senior Director of Product Marketing, Philips Lighting, on the topic of luminaire-integrated lighting controls. DiLouie: What types of luminaire-integrated controls are available for LED lighting? Oomen: For indoor lighting, integrated controls include presence detectors, (day)light sensors and receivers. For outdoor lighting presence detectors [...]

We recognize that our popular Education Express online distance-education program has been running slower than normal in recent months. We appreciate your patience while we resolved the problem. We’re happy to report the issue has been addressed, and the site is loading very quickly. Thank you for using Education Express! Click here to check out [...]

The Lighting Controls Association welcomes RAB Lighting as a new member. RAB Lighting is committed to creating high quality, affordable, well designed and energy efficient LED lighting and controls that make it easy for distributors to sell, electricians to install and end users to save energy. Founded in 1946, RAB has a vibrantly growing infrastructure [...]

Guest post by Kevin Willmorth. Superficially, dimming seems to be a simple operation. Turn a knob, slide a bar, or touch a screen to change light levels – done and done. This simplistic form of dimming was once applicable to resistance loads (incandescent lamps) using rheostat controls. The combination creates a naturally feeling dimming profile, [...]

The U.S. Department of Energy recently posted the presentations from the 2016 DOE SSL Technology Development Workshop, held November 16–17 in Denver. You can download them here. The controls-related presentations included: Connected Lighting: What Is It, What Makes It Different, and Where Is It Going? Moderator: Michael Poplawski, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Matt Petti, Eaton [...]

We’re very proud to unveil the new look for the Lighting Controls Association website. The new site offers the same robust content as the old but with a cleaner format. Here are the major changes: * Clean, attractive design * New software for The Buzz, bringing you all LCA member social media feeds in one [...]

U.S. real GDP slowed to 1.6% in 2016, the lowest growth rate since 2011. However, the outlook for construction spending in 2017 continues to be positive for all market sectors. The AIA’s semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, is projecting nearly 6% growth in nonresidential construction spending in 2017, [...]

This short video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2016 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to nLight wireless networked digital lighting controls by Acuity Brands. Click here to learn more.

In “Lighting Controls for Dummies,” a presentation at 2016 LEDucation in NYC, Andrea Hartranft, LC, IALD, of Hartranft Lighting Design, LLC, attempts to demystify lighting control vocabulary and provide a better understanding of solid-state dimming. Lighting Controls for Dummies from LEDucation on Vimeo.  

The Lighting Controls Association has published a basic guide to applying lighting controls to open office spaces. Hoteling, hot-desking and other open office design trends are increasing demands for lighting flexibility. Meanwhile, commercial building energy codes are increasing demands for energy efficiency. A well-designed lighting and control system can maximize both of these objectives. Authored [...]

In the fall of 2016, the Lighting Controls Association invited subscribers of lightingCONTROL, its monthly newsletter, to participate in a survey. The goal of the survey was to determine satisfaction with LCA services. LCA filtered the responses to separate manufacturers, manufacturer representatives and “other” (press, academic, etc.) respondents, which were regarded separately. The remainder included [...]

The Illuminating Engineering Society is now accepting submissions for the 2017 Illumination Awards, including the Lighting Control Innovation Award sponsored by the Lighting Controls Association. The deadline for submissions is February 17, 2017. The entry fee is $125 per project. Click here to see past winners. Click here to learn more.

Although some respondents noted weakness in their markets, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) indicates a decidedly positive shift overall as the current conditions index moved from 57.9 in November to 66.7 in December.

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview James Benson, GM Global Marketing – Current, powered by GE, Intelligent Cities for an article about smart cities for Electrical Contractor Magazine. DiLouie: What is the concept of the smart city? What are the basic capabilities and benefits? Benson: A smart city is a place [...]

At its 90th Annual Membership Meeting, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) elected Michael Pessina, co-CEO and president of Lutron Electronics, as chairman of the 2017 Board of Governors. Additional officers include Immediate Past Chairwoman Maryrose Sylvester of Current, powered by GE and First Vice Chair and Treasurer David Nord of Hubbell Incorporated. In his [...]

The LIGHTFAIR International (LFI) 2017 conference will offer 77 courses totaling more than 190 education hours at Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Convention Center May 7-11, 2017. Highlighting the conference are two leading-edge forums that will explore some of the newest advancements in the industry: IoT & Smart Lighting Forum and Light & Health Forum. Each all-day forum [...]

The ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1 energy standard provides a model energy code to jurisdictions interested in regulating the energy-efficient design of commercial buildings. The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) recognizes 90.1 as an alternative compliance standard. ASHRAE recently published the 2016 version, which supersedes the 2013 version. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognizes the 2013 version [...]

This short video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2016 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to PLC Multipoint Tandem lighting control system. Click here to learn more.

In 2016, ENERGY STAR hosted a series of webinars on important lighting and control topics including flicker, evaluating color quality, connected lighting and dimmable LED lamps. You can also sign up for the last 2016 webinar, which will be held December 29, 2016 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET. This webinar will cover the [...]

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently published a white paper that discusses new requirements that help reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings. NEMA WD ARCP 1-2016 Automatic Receptacle Control to Meet ASHRAE 90.1-2010 and California (CA) Title 24 explains the controlled receptacle requirement now appearing within non-residential energy codes, as well as a summary [...]

Commercial building energy codes contain detailed mandatory lighting control requirements related to buildings such as K-12 schools. The high-performance school design movement extends these requirements by demanding additional flexibility to support the contemporary learning experience in today’s classroom. This application guide by the Lighting Controls Association describes various control strategies that can be applied to [...]

According to new research by Lutron Electronics, lighting for video conferencing (VTC) applications must accommodate the visual requirements of the people and the camera, and provide visibility of any display materials, especially to remote participants. Achieving the proper lighting balance requires the right combination of fixtures and the right combination of control strategies. While linear [...]

This short video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2016 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to Wattstopper’s Segment Manager software.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published NEMA WD 7-2011 (R2016) Occupancy Motion Sensors Standard, which promotes uniformity in the use and application of occupancy motion sensors used in lighting control systems, HVAC, and other devices. This standard explains field of view and coverage characteristics relevant to vacancy and occupancy sensors using passive infrared, [...]

Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Yan Rodriguez, VP, Product & Technology, Acuity Brands Lighting for an article about LED flicker for Electrical Contractor Magazine. DiLouie: In your opinion, how big a problem is LED product flicker in the lighting industry as of 2016? What types of products (lamps versus luminaires, [...]

The interNational Association of Lighting Management Companies (NALMCO) has launched the Certified Lighting Controls Professional (CLCP) designation. With no prerequisites, the CLCP is open to all applicants. Intended to demonstrate a high degree of general knowledge in lighting controls, the CLCP is based on the Lighting Controls Association’s Education Express online education system. This high-quality [...]

This short video, produced by the Lighting Controls Association at the 2016 LIGHTFAIR event, introduces the building industry to the SimplySNAP wireless lighting control solution by Synapse Wireless. Click here to learn more.

This article published in TechCrunch identifies intelligent lighting as a platform for developing Internet of Things strategies in buildings. “The LED revolution is over. To no one’s surprise, LEDs have won. Solid-state lighting is changing how we light the world, successfully displacing traditional illumination sources across every part of the global lighting market. Over the [...]

This video post by LUX asserts that a looming skills shortage could threaten widespread adoption of connected lighting. Check it out below:

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 [...]

Strategies Unlimited recently published its annual market research report, Global Luminaires: Lighting Analysis and Forecast 2016. For 2015, the global luminaire market was assessed at US $62.9 billion with anticipated revenue growth of 2% from 2015 to 2022. The seemingly stagnant growth is due to all other technologies except for LED luminaires declining in demand [...]