Kirby Risk Summer 2022_Digital

LIGHTING

LIGHTING

Code (IECC) and the are generally adopted as code at the state or city level and enforced by local building permit office personnel. “These put certain requirements on engineers, contractors and building owners that they must meet from a sustainability standpoint,” Clary says. The challenge is to help customers design lighting control systems that meet energy code requirements, but also keep installation simple and easy for contractors. Rebates offered by energy companies throughout the U.S. add another incentive for using more energy efficient lighting and controls. According to Encentiv Energy, 77% of the US is currently covered by an active commercial or industrial lighting rebate program. Resources such as our Kirby Risk Lighting Specialists can help you seek out opportunities in your state or region. While wired control systems most often appear on the specs for new projects, wireless control systems are gaining ground. Clary said as people have begun to use wireless products like Alexa or Bluetooth® devices in their home, they’ve become more comfortable with considering wireless controls for their business or project. Clary adds that design build contractors seem to be embracing wireless technology too. For example, the SensorSwitch™ JOT products from Acuity Brands, a wireless app-free solution for single room lighting control that can auto-commission with the push of a button, give the contractor an easy to install solution that gets their crew off the job quickly and saves significant labor and material costs. Although wireless controls are still relatively new to the market, their evolution is moving quickly. Robert Riley, District Sales Manager for RAB Lighting, is looking forward to the launch of RAB’s latest wireless control system, Lightcloud Blue. Through a self-automated Bluetooth mesh system, each device can communicate directly with any other device on the system, eliminating a gateway or hub needed by most wireless systems. The mobile app-controlled system uses patent-pending Rapid Provisioning that allows up to 100 devices to be synced in minutes instead of hours. This new system can also manage 600 devices on a platform and can add up to five sites for a total of 3,000 devices. Because it is so easy to scale up, it is equally capable of managing residential, commercial or industrial applications. LED technology is also driving the trend in automated

lighting controls. Riley says lighting controls offer much higher functionality for a customer. Coupled with LED lighting, the lifespan of the LED actually increases. In contrast, controls used with a legacy product (fluorescent, HID, etc.) may decrease product lifespan. Longer lifespan results in reduced maintenance and energy costs, making LED a more efficient choice for automated lighting. Installing a fully networked control solution with IoT capabilities instead of a standalone solution is another lighting trend. Clary says the cost is often minimal, while the functionality, visibility and flexibility it gives is proving more valuable, “Especially for companies that are interested in gathering information and data to make informed business decisions.” For new construction, Clary says hybrid solutions are trending. Hybrid solutions use a combination of wireless, wired, distributed and embedded control strategies where they make sense, while all still being on the same network. This allows the flexibility to design controls ideal for each specific application but have them operate under a single system. For example, Clary recommends nLight® from Acuity Brands lighting control platform for a one site, one system approach. It works as a network of digital devices interconnected through CAT 5e wired (nLight® Wired) and/or wireless (nLight® AIR) systems to coordinate time-based, daylight based, occupancy-based or manual lighting controls. This hybrid system is also easily scalable from one room to a whole campus.

The SensorSwitch ™ JOT products from Acuity Brands allow contractors to pair the wall switch and JOT enabled fixtures in six seconds with no commissioning, mobile apps or dimming wires required to start the system.

Photo provided by Lithonia Lighting

AUTOMATED LIGHTING AND CONTROLS — Current Trends and Selection Considerations

Automated lighting and controls, or smart lighting, involves adding intelligent lighting control systems to lamps or luminaires to allow communication and interaction with the surrounding environment, occupants of that environment and other devices. The main goals of these automated lighting systems are to increase product functionality, reduce energy consumption, reduce operating costs and comply with energy codes. There are several scenarios for automated lighting and controls in commercial or industrial spaces ranging from a simple dimmer switch controlling light fixtures in a single office space to a wireless system that controls pole top area lights in a parking lot configurable through a mobile app. Another case for smart lighting might include an advanced system that connects a network of devices, both wired and wireless, across a whole campus or warehouse facility. Whatever the scenario’s end goal, the lighting controls

used could include occupancy sensors, photocells, wall switch/dimmers, panels, power/relay packs, controllers and luminaires with controls embedded. Lighting controls have been around for a long time. However, the introduction of innovative technologies in recent years has spurred an increase in their usage. According to Grand View Research, the global smart lighting market size was valued at $10.85 billion in 2020 with an expected expansion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.4% from 2021 to 2028. LEDinside reports 60% of that growth has taken place within commercial and industrial applications.

TRENDS IN AUTOMATED LIGHTING AND CONTROLS

But what is driving this growth? According to Richard Clary, Director of Sales, Lighting Controls with Acuity Brands, “Energy code has really been the greatest motivator.” Energy standards developed by private organizations like American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), International Energy Conservation

Select light fixtures for your warehouse that come embedded with energy-saving daylight and occupancy sensors but also come pre-loaded with wireless networking capabilities to easily re-configure lighting zones as needed.

14 CONNECTED | SUMMER 2022

CONNECTED | SUMMER 2022 15