Controls

  Last week, I published a story on Matter expanding from residential smart homes to commercial and industrial applications. The following is a large-scale demonstration of applying Matter-over-Thread to a commercial environment. Silicon Labs has demonstrated a 200-node Matter-over-Thread validation network, providing a significant proof point for the use of Matter in commercial lighting, building [...]

  Beijing Betavolt New Energy Technology has announced a compact nuclear coin-sized battery, the BV100, capable of delivering continuous power for up to 50 years without recharging or maintenance, positioning the technology as a potential disruptor in long-duration energy supply for low-power electronics and remote applications. The device, often described as a “nuclear microbattery,” leverages [...]

  LEDVANCE has received a 2026 German Innovation Award for Elix, an AI-powered companion lighting robot that combines adaptive illumination, robotics and interactive controls. The product won the Excellence in Business-to-Consumer Lighting category at the May awards ceremony in Berlin, following its public debut at Lichtwoche Sauerland and appearance at Light + Building 2026. Elix [...]

  At its inaugural Unify conference in Austin, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) made a clear strategic statement: it is no longer just a smart home standards body. While Matter remains the Alliance’s flagship technology, the event made plain that the organization is actively broadening its focus to commercial buildings, industrial IoT, energy management, cybersecurity, [...]

  Parks Associates’ recent whitepaper, From Smart Home to Building Intelligence argues that multifamily properties are moving beyond standalone smart-home features toward integrated building-intelligence platforms that unify connectivity, access, automation, security, and energy management. The report’s most important message for the lighting industry is that lighting is no longer just a fixture-level upgrade; it is increasingly part [...]

  The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) has published its Networked Lighting Controls (NLC) V5.2 technical requirements, with the update taking effect Aug. 3, 2026. The revision strengthens interoperability, standardizes reporting, and expands the role of lighting controls in integrated building systems, including HVAC-related applications. The new version positions networked lighting controls as more than a lighting-only [...]

Eaton has introduced a new line of residential occupancy and vacancy sensors designed to improve energy efficiency, simplify installation, and align with evolving code requirements. The OS306A Occupancy Sensor and VS306M Vacancy Sensor combine enhanced detection performance with a streamlined form factor suited for both new construction and retrofit applications. The devices reflect continued demand [...]

  Smart home technology can improve quality of life for people with autism, older adults, and others who benefit from added support at home. Smart home tools are more than novelty gadgets. Rather, they can be practical systems that can reduce stress, increase safety, and make daily routines more manageable. Technology works best when it [...]

  Parks Associates’ 2026 State of Connected Home report says the connected home market is shifting away from selling devices and toward owning the customer relationship through data, services, and recurring revenue. The biggest growth opportunities are in platform control, AI-driven home experiences, security, and home energy management, while trust and privacy remain the main [...]