The following Craig DiLouie article appears in tED Magazine and is reprinted with permission of tED Magazine. DiLouie interviewed executives at Genlyte Solutions, Cooper Lighting Solutions, and Current.
The LED revolution produced dramatic energy efficiency gains and numerous new capabilities. As LED source efficacy is largely realized and plateauing, manufacturers are more deeply exploring these other capabilities to maximize energy savings and value. In the future, manufacturers say, lighting will become more rooted as building infrastructure, more integrated with other building systems, and even more flexible. Meanwhile, the need for decarbonization and the large existing buildings market will ensure lasting lucrative sales opportunities for electrical distributors.
“Lighting is no longer just a fixture—it’s a force multiplier,” said Narissa Grufferman, Vice President Channel Sales, Cooper Lighting Solutions (CooperLighting.com). “It’s enabling smarter, greener, more human-focused environments. The more we lean into that narrative, the more value we can bring to every project.”
“It’s time to transition the focus from an energy and dollars-and-cents conversation to one about well-being and performance and other qualitative benefits,” said Lisette Ditters, Indoor Segment Leader, Genlyte Solutions, a Signify Business (Signify.com). Ditters added, “Seeing and experiencing the latest technologies for yourself is important for driving this shift in conversation.”
Multiple end-user trends are shaping demand for lighting products.
The three interviewed manufacturers—Cooper, Genlyte, and Current—are looking hard at several significant trends. At the building level: decarbonization, Internet of Things (IoT) integration, building systems integration, and how lighting can support organizations’ environment, social, and governance goals. At the space level, design flexibility, aesthetics, high degree of color quality, using light and control for comfort and well-being, controls integration, leveraging the flexibility of LED lighting with distinctive luminaire designs, and achieving quality lighting with a minimalist approach or quiet ceiling design (e.g., architectural linear slots replacing troffers).
“One could argue that owners are more educated,” said Scott Ziegenfus, Vice President of Technical Customer Experience (CX), Current (CurrentLighting.com). “They’re aware lighting affects more than bills. They want to know more about how it shapes experiences, especially in learning and working environments. Of course, price still drives a lot of decisions, and that’s where distributors come in. It’s a chance to guide the conversation away from price and toward value, and show how better lighting leads to practical benefits like fewer complaints and more productivity.”
“New construction projects in the healthcare, education, and data center segments are showing growth across the country,” Ditters said. “The largest segment, office, is starting to come back around, particularly for tenant improvement projects, with more companies opting to bring their employees back to a physical office space.”
Lighting controls and integration lead as product trends.
Manufacturers point to significant trends such as field-adjustable and modular luminaires, customization available via 3D printing services, and improved optics and beam control for visual comfort. All agree, however, that the hottest trend is integrated control providing energy code compliance, manual dimming, and potentially color tuning and data.
Current’s Ziegenfus said contractors and owners want simplicity from lighting controls, leading to demand for solutions where controls are embedded in luminaires, install plug-and-play, self-commission and feature distributed intelligence, wirelessly communicate, and consolidate sensor functionality in a single device. Equipped with default sequences of operation based on prevailing energy codes, today’s embedded control solutions can provide virtually out-of-the-box compliance while providing a platform for integration with other building systems like HVAC and to collect data that can be leveraged for insights and operational efficiencies.
“Lighting has quietly become an essential digital infrastructure because it’s always On and always everywhere that people are in a building,” Ziegenfus noted. “And because of that, it’s a perfect way to embed intelligence without needing to rip open ceilings or walls. We’re seeing it shape how buildings operate in terms of where people go, how long they stay, how resources are used. Lighting is no longer a discrete system—it’s part of a building’s brain.”
“Demand is steadily rising, especially in retrofit and new construction projects where simplicity and scalability matter,” Grufferman said. “Onboard controls reduce wiring complexity, speed up installs, and offer a path to future-ready infrastructure. As wireless protocols become more robust, we expect these solutions to become baseline in many applications.”
Distributors can benefit by partnering with leading manufacturers, developing knowledge they can share with customers, and listening to customers.
Efficient stocking by distributors, lack of standardization (to support innovation), faster lead times, and the growing complexity of lighting systems all promote distributor collaboration with responsive and supportive partners. Distributors can similarly benefit, as always, by being good partners for their customers, educating them about the value of quality lighting, and engaging them about each application’s distinct needs.
“An effective partnership is all about creating customer value and staying agile in the dynamic lighting market,” said Steve Baronoff, National Distribution Leader, Genlyte Solutions, a Signify business. “Electrical distributors should invest in their internal talent. Work with manufacturers to develop specialized knowledge. Integrate their systems with manufacturers through AI and APIs to maximize capabilities for customers. Collaborate with manufacturers to identify and prioritize opportunities and sectors ripe for lighting upgrades. And understand their local territories, as there are nuances to trends by geography.”
“Collaborate early,” Grufferman advised. “Share pipeline visibility. Co-develop targeted messaging or turnkey kits. Manufacturers benefit when distributors share end-user pain points and in turn can tailor solutions and support that strengthen the partnership.”
“Know your codes, rebates, and control systems inside and out,” Ziegenfus concluded. “Bring more to the table than product specs and show contractors how your solutions save time and hassle. It sounds simple but offer products that are easily installed and meet inspection on the first pass, and you need to clearly communicate that value. If you make the job easier, suddenly you’re a partner and not just a supplier.”
Image above: In one interior lighting trend, design is evolving toward minimalist shapes and quiet ceilings. Image courtesy of Cooper Lighting Solutions.
Image: The small, high-output LED source is increasingly being leveraged to create distinctive shapes and designs, with further customization available from some manufacturers via 3D printing. Image courtesy of Cooper Lighting Solutions.
Image: Manufacturers say education remains an enduring market for solid demand for lighting products, with office making a comeback. Warehouse, healthcare, and industrial are also seeing strong demand. A very strong emerging market is data centers such as shown here. Image courtesy of Cooper Lighting Solutions.
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