Controls

Next Generation Lighting Systems (NGLS) is launching the next phase of its evaluations of indoor connected lighting systems. The initial phase, which began in 2017, evaluated 12 systems installed in working classrooms at New York City’s Parsons School of Design, The New School. The new phase will include the upgrade of the existing systems, as well as the addition of new systems that are also marketed as easy to install and configure and consist of LED luminaires with integral, luminaire-level sensors and controls.

To better understand the trend toward luminaire-level lighting controls, Anne Curran, Senior Program Manager for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Luminaire Level Lighting Controls initiative, interviewed Damon Bosetti, Technical Manager at DesignLights Consortium.

The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) and the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) recently announced a new agreement designed to enhance and promote development and adoption of smart building technology.

The Zhaga Consortium and the Digital Illumination Interface Alliance (DiiA) have unveiled their joint Zhaga-D4i certification program, indicating plug-and-play interoperability of luminaires, sensors, and communication nodes.

Lighting Controls Association President Gary Meshberg’s column in the May issue of LD+A argues that lighting controls have evolved to become a key tool for achieving quality lighting.

Connected lighting and the Internet of Things (IoT) promise extraordinary enhanced value for buildings, but this connectivity introduces data privacy and security risks. These issues are growing in importance in the lighting industry, which has the advantage of adopting established best practices but may need to accelerate its learning curve.

On April 18, from 12-1 PM ET, the Illuminating Engineering Society will present a webinar on the topic of networked lighting controls, developed by the Lighting Controls Association and presented by educator Steve Mesh.

My contribution to the Lighting Controls Association’s website in January takes aim at cybersecurity concerns when specifying networked lighting systems, and provides eight tips on things to look at and address for enhanced security.

My lighting column for the January issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR talked about why and how electrical contractors should talk to IT departments when working on projects involving installation of networked lighting controls.