Commercial buildings in the United States are getting larger and more commonly include energy-saving features like LED lighting and occupancy sensors, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), published in September 2021.
Top three value proposition choices for DC lighting and building microgrids among industry stakeholders interviewed by PNNL.
Direct current (DC) is emerging as a competitive or complementary power distribution option at the grid, community, and building level. Among the advantages for building owners is potential efficiencies in operating DC-based LED lighting and controls as well as plug-and-play sensor and controls installation, including networking that can unlock Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
The Advanced Lighting Systems Team at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), located at the organization’s Portland Research Center in Portland, OR seeks a Lighting Research Scientist to support and conduct research necessary to improve lighting controls technology and application.
The LEDucation 2020 trade show and conference will be held online on August 18-19, 2020. Here are some highlights of the Controls Education Track.
LSI Industries recently announced the launch of its new AirLink Blue wireless outdoor lighting control system.
Douglas Lighting Controls®, a member of the Panasonic family of companies, recently introduced the new Intelligent Fixture Sensor (IFS) and Intelligent Fixture Controller (IFC) to its high-performance lighting products portfolio.
The DesignLights Consortium is seeking to fill the position of Technical Manager. This position will support the DLC’s networked lighting controls (NLC) platform and expansion into smart/intelligent buildings and exterior environments.
Echoflex Solutions, an ETC Company, recently published a design guide that details lighting control scenarios for various space types. The Design Guide walks readers through sample solutions, offers in-depth info on devices, and contains risers for the most common systems for offices, hotels, restaurants, and more.
Echoflex Solutions’ (an ETC Company) Emergency Lighting Circuit Transfer Relay (ELCTR) is a branch circuit emergency lighting transfer switch designed to transfer a single lighting circuit up to 20A from one power source to another during a power failure or other emergency situation, while satisfying NEC fault-current rating and endurance requirements for devices that can be used for emergency transfer circuits.
Hubbell Control Solutions recently announced the availability of the new NX SimpleTouch™ full-color touch-screen wall station. The attractive and easy-to-use NX SimpleTouch is designed for customers using NX Distributed Intelligence™ devices for code-compliant lighting control.
Hubbell Lighting Components recently introduced the Microwave Sensor Module (MWM) control. The MWM detects motion from behind plastic or glass diffusers.
Philips Lighting recently announced the launch of a new Cloud-based Scene management app that enables businesses to quickly and simply change a building’s architectural lighting using a smartphone or tablet.
The GDS by ETC ArcLamp LED retrofit lamp now has an ArcLamp Fade to Warm option, imitating the performance of incandescent lamps.
NEMA SSL7A-2015, Phase-Cut Dimming for Solid State Lighting, provides compatibility requirements when a phase-cut dimmer is combined with one or more dimmable light-emitting diode light engines. This standard works in conjunction with the NEMA Dimming Compatibility Program to help consumers easily find LED lamps and dimmers that are compatible.
With the release of ETC’s Unison Paradigm® system’s latest software, Paradigm 4.0, the system incorporates: energy monitoring options, including Demand Response; improved support for tunable white and color changing fixtures; extended support for Paradigm Inspire stations, including faders; and many software optimizations to make programming and customizing the system simpler.
HUNT Dimming has introduced a low-voltage Momentary-ON Simplicity® PhotoSlide™ lighting controller to its product offering, which combines manual override of low-voltage daylight harvesting devices such as power packs, sensors and lighting panels with a separate 0-10VDC lighting control in a single wall-mounted device.
ETC recently introduced a new member of the Unison family: Unison Foundry™, a line of DMX-controlled, distributed power control products that includes Mini Panels, Relay Controllers, 0-10V Controllers, and Phase-adaptive Dimmers.
ETC recently launched their Unison Paradigm® line of architectural lighting controls, increasing lighting station options with the line of Inspire® control stations and making it easier to comply with stringent energy requirements with the new Dual Tech sensors. The powerful and elegant Inspire station, originally introduced in the Unison Echo® product line, is now a [...]
LD+A recently reported that the City of Spokane, Washington has deployed traffic-adaptive LED streetlights using Echelon’s artificial intelligence vision system. In Spokane, the system will be deployed on traffic intersection streetlights, where it will analyze traffic flows and automatically adjust light levels in an attempt to enhance safety, while reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs. [...]
ETC’s new Dual Tech Occupancy/Vacancy Sensors are designed for restrooms, privacy rooms and other areas where a lack of movement doesn’t necessarily mean a space is unoccupied. The Dual Tech sensors take their name from the fact that they couple passive infrared (PIR) detection with acoustic detection technology, ensuring lights stay on when needed and [...]
ETC’s DMX Emergency Bypass Controller enables DMX512-controlled lighting fixtures to operate as normal or emergency fixtures during emergency-lighting situations. When triggered by an external UL924 device, the DMX Emergency Bypass Controller will take control of a single universe of DMX512.
Douglas Lighting Controls has introduced a complete standalone wireless system to control lights in a variety of commercial applications using Bluetooth® wireless technology. The system devices include Douglas Lighting Controls’ Bluetooth® Fixture Mounted Controller & Sensor, Bluetooth® Fixture Controller, Bluetooth® Sensor, Bluetooth® Switches, and Bluetooth® Dialog® Gateway. A complimentary Smartphone App provides commissioning and control [...]
Hubbell Lighting recently introduced SiteSync™ Lighting Control for exterior spaces. SiteSync Lighting Control will replace Beaconnect, recognized by the industry as an innovative technology, having been selected to the 2014 IES Progress Report and securing a PIA award in 2015. The technology is well suited for site / area, auto dealerships, parking, retail, security and [...]
Human perception of light is non-linear, resulting in a miss-match between delivered illuminance changes and perceived light levels. In addition to understanding the dimming behavior of a product, when a manufacturer promises their product delivers 1% dimming, it is important to know whether this is 1% of light output (10% perceived brightness) or 1% actual perceived light (which is 0.05% of light output).
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, [...]
Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Bruce Bharat, Director of Product Marketing for Acuity Brands for an article about luminaire-integrated controls for tED Magazine. DiLouie: What types of luminaire-integrated controls are available for LED lighting? Bharat: Today, it’s possible to purchase commercial, industrial and outdoor LEDs with a large variety of [...]
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, [...]
The Lighting Control Innovation Award was created in 2011 as part of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Illumination Awards program, which recognizes professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design. LCA is proud to sponsor the Lighting Control Innovation Award, which recognizes projects that exemplify the effective use of lighting controls in nonresidential applications. This month, we [...]
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.
Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP recently had the opportunity to interview Susanne Seitinger, PhD, Philips Lighting, Professional Systems for an article about smart cities for Electrical Contractor Magazine. DiLouie: What is the concept of the smart city? Seitinger: A Smart City should reinforce the best of what a city can offer to the people who want [...]
The Fairhair Alliance and the ZigBee Alliance have signed a liaison agreement to collaborate on driving higher levels of product interoperability and standards unification in smart commercial buildings. The two organizations will explore opportunities to combine their technical specifications and take advantage of the ZigBee Alliance’s extensive testing, certification and branding resources and expertise to [...]
The EnOcean Alliance has significantly expanded, and strengthened its program in building automation and the Internet of Things, with IBM supporting the EnOcean Alliance as a Promoter Member. The EnOcean Alliance is a consortium of more than 400 companies that standardize and develop intelligent building solutions integrating energy harvesting wireless technology. Together, IBM and the [...]
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 Lighting Control Innovation Award was created in 2011 as part of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Illumination Awards program, which recognizes professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design. LCA is proud to sponsor the Lighting Control Innovation Award, which recognizes projects that exemplify the effective use of lighting controls in nonresidential applications. This month, we [...]
To accelerate advances in connected lighting systems, DOE developed a connected lighting test bed (CLTB) in 2016 to characterize the capabilities of market-available connected lighting systems. The results will increase visibility on what does and does not work, and create tight information feedback loops to inform technology developers about needed improvements related to interoperability, configuration [...]
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.
Lighting the skyline of historic Burlington Iowa proves that outdoor lighting controls offer value primarily as a design consideration, along with being a means of saving energy. During summer 2016, Burlington’s “Lightscape” project enhanced the beauty of the town, giving it new visibility. Burlington was built into the sides of a picturesque natural amphitheater along [...]
In this video by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, two lighting experts bust popular myths about luminaire-level lighting controls (LLLCs).
The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) offers a free series of training videos covering various aspects of networked lighting controls.
In this episode of the Lighting Controls Podcast co-produced by the Lighting Controls Academy and sponsored by manufacturer MaxLite, hosts C. Webster Marsh and Ron Kuzmar interview industry veteran Mitch Hefter, LC, MIES of Mitch Hefter Consulting.
MaxLite offers a robust library of training videos at its website covering a wide range of topics, including the company’s basic controls, EasyRF Controls, networked lighting controls, and partner Silvair’s networked controls.
At NYControlled, the EdisonReport’s Randy Reid interviewed Shana Longo, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Intelligent Buildings, Legrand, about the Wattstopper i3 platform. Longo explains how the system uses smart lighting data, cloud-based software, and AI to deliver interoperability, insights, and intelligence for building optimization.
At NYControlled, the EdisonReport’s Randy Reid interviewed Steven Zhou, Executive Vice President at mwConnect, about the company’s new Bluetooth NLC-based thermostat.
At NYControlled, the EdisonReport’s Randy Reid interviewed Martin Mercier, Marketing Manager for IoT Connected Systems at Cooper Lighting, about the company’s new ILC EVO Lightroom controller and Wavelink emergency lighting system.
At NYControlled, the EdisonReport’s Randy Reid interviewed Joe Briscoe, Technical Sales Specialist at Leviton, to discuss the company’s latest lighting control solutions designed to simplify installation and enhance performance.
At NYControlled, the EdisonReport’s Randy Reid interviewed Legrand’s Harold Jepsen, a member of the board of the Lighting Controls Academy, about lighting control trends, the mission of the Lighting Control Academy, and the launch of the new Design Express tool.
At NYControlled, the EdisonReport’s Randy Reid interviewed Chris Primous, EVP of Sales & Marketing at LiteTrace Brands, about the company’s latest products and innovations.
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