Whether it be an office building with a smart Building Management System (BMS), a dynamic color changing bridge, or a lobby with an interactive multimedia experience, architectural lighting controls systems need integration. A lighting controls systems integrator provides a unique service for lighting controls by identifying and overseeing the devices necessary for the unique needs of the project’s design. Some projects don’t use a dedicated lighting controls integrator and some projects experience challenges without the aid of a dedicated integrator. For project success, a lighting controls designer should know when to onboard and specify an integrator.
Guidance for Net-Zero K-12 and Office Buildings
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recently published guides on how to design buildings that achieve net-zero energy consumption without compromising quality.
Building upon previous guides targeting deep energy savings, the first two new guides were developed in partnership with the American Institute of Architects, Illuminating Engineering Society, and U.S. Green Building Council, and target K-12 and small to medium office buildings.
Designing a Lighting Control System
Robert J. Garra Jr., PE of CannonDesign recently contributed an article to CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER, in which he makes a case for the importance of emphasizing controls in a quality lighting design, while laying out principles for application.
Kevin Willmorth on Integrating User Controls into Lighting Control Schemes
“The reduction of overhead lighting to providing minimal background illumination, augmented by individualized lighting systems incorporating user control, delivers optimal use of facilities resources and energy, while creating a more agreeable, and arguably healthier work environment.”
Controlling Emergency Lighting
The LED revolution produced many luminaires with built-in switching and dimming. This facilitated a trend of using the same luminaires for both general and emergency lighting, powered by battery, backup generator, or UPS. This eliminates emergency units but creates a control challenge. The dual-function luminaires must be controllable for energy management and visual needs, while overriding these inputs to power to full brightness during a power failure.
Steve Mesh on Control Protocols
Steve Mesh writes, “According to Wikipedia, a communication protocol is a ‘system of rules that allow two or more entities of a communications system to transmit information via any kind of variation of a physical quantity.’ That’s a mouthful! What does that mean in terms of networked lighting control (NLC) systems?”
Synergy Electrical Sales’ Paul Rudalavage on Fact Finding for Lighting Control Systems
In this guest post, Paul Rudalavage, Synergy Electrical Sales summarizes five key areas to understand and explore when purchasing a lighting control system.
Lighting Controls for Existing Buildings
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE DECISIONS recently ran an article contributed by the Lighting Controls Association on how to apply lighting controls to existing buildings.
Room- Versus Building-Based Control Systems: Pros and Cons
This guest article by Steve Mesh compares the pros and cons of room- versus building-based control systems.
Lighting Controls for Today’s Classroom
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 […]