About two months ago on this blog, I wrote about a combination of insights into building technology from speakers at the US Department of Energy (DOE) Lighting R&D Workshop. If you haven’t read it, here’s the Reader’s Digest version: That blog covered the intersection of lighting design, informatics, automation, and building management systems to potentially deliver improved resource utilization and to buttress the idea of the zero net-energy building future.
Since that event was focused on the state of research & development, it was not surprising that the applications and tools were approached more from a future-roadmap point of view. And that was an excellent discussion of the convergence of programming skills, software applications, and lighting and building technology implementation that could become the standard.
So when I was cruising through the Strategies in Light program this morning in preparation for upcoming coverage, something caught my eye. The session on Lighting Controls will offer a talk titled “A Year in the Life of a Networked Lighting Control System.” And the abstract presents an opportunity to consider networked lighting controls, or NLCs, in the…well, less abstract and more immediate real-world realm. Osram director of industry & market engagement Gary Meshberg, who is also vice chair of the Lighting Controls Association, knows a little something about lighting controls. He’s been involved in the lighting industry for 30 years with experience in design, selling, and marketing, and has earned LEED AP, LC, and CLCP certifications.
In teasing the upcoming conference presentation, Meshberg said, "Most often, people see the value from a networked lighting control system stemming from the energy savings. Certainly, this is one of the top benefits; however, an equally powerful benefit stems from the non-energy benefits which directly solve client problems. These tangible benefits are icing on the cake when visualized. They include space optimization/utilization, IoT, and system integration."
I expect there will be valuable information on how NLCs have fared in recent installations and what features and failures have taught both the operators and connected lighting and controls developers. There has been plenty written and discussed with regard to clarifying the market with data-backed cost analysis, return on investment, and how to define expectations for connected lighting and NLCs.
Register to join us and attend this talk, and much more at Strategies in Light, August 24–26, in Santa Clara, CA.
*Updated Apr. 12, 2021 12:38 PM for speaker quote.
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