Commercial Architecture October 2016 - 8

controls FEATURE Lighting Meets The Internet of Things LEDs have opened the door to a new world of control in lighting and building automation. Kenneth W. Betz, Senior Editor N ot so long ago LEDs were big news in com- ing manager, building control systems, Legrand, mercial-lighting applications. They are still West Hartford, CT. a big thing, but more importantly they've "In retail, controls and automation can help cre- ushered in a whole new array of control options ate the perfect ambiance and scenes. Newer IoT tech- along with the Internet of Things (IoT). nologies are enabling the retailer to connect to the Lighting and building-automation controls, gen- customer in-store in never before thought of ways erally thought of as most effective in large, sin- using LiFi [faster WiFi] and RFID, for example," he gle-tenant facilities, have applications in smaller, added. mixed-use tenant spaces as well. Many newer systems Jian Ni, chief operating officer, Forest Lighting, don't have the high overhead requirements of older Marietta, GA, agreed that lighting-control applica- automation systems and are more affordable and eas- tions are suitable for all types of mixed-use scenarios. ier to install. Wireless systems, in particular, are suit- "In retail applications, a control system would allow ed for smaller applications. changes in overhead and accent lighting in both light "The value of digital sensing and control varies levels and color as store display and merchandise lo- for each segment and space type, and we are seeing cations and types change with the seasons and holi- creative application of intelligent systems across all days," he said. types of buildings. The IoT opportunities are exten- "In office applications, a control system would sive, and we expect to see widespread adoption across allow optimum combinations of natural and artifi- all segments," stated Carol Jones, senior director of cial light as time moves from morning through mid- lighting relations, Enlighted, Sunnyvale, CA. day and into late afternoon. It could also permit indi- Asked if intelligent lighting is suited to smaller spaces in mixed-use facilities, Gary Trott, vice presi- vidual control of lighting in an employee's space," he continued. dent of marketing for intelligent lighting, Cree Inc., "In residential applications in Durham, NC, replied, "Absolutely. Some intelligent mix-usage buildings, dimming of lighting platforms have what I'll call a really high light levels in common areas when overhead of infrastructure that has to be pulled in, they are unoccupied could result but systems like ours can scale from the small spaces in major savings in energy and util- up to the big ones. The key is that there is not a lot of ity expense. In individual units, technology overhead that exists outside the lights, light levels and light colors in each and that's the kind of intelligence platform that room could be tuned to the prefer- works in the smaller spaces." ence of the occupant," Ni said. In all cases, lighting controls help save a substan- "Mixed-use spaces are becom- tial amount of energy. For commercial retail and of- ing more and more attractive to fice spaces, lighting controls and automation help populations looking to live and meet energy-code requirements and sustainability work in more walkable areas," not- efforts," according to Ryan Smillie, product market- ed Eric Lind, vice president, global For commercial retail and office spaces, lighting controls and automation helps meet energy-code requirements and sustainability efforts. Courtesy CetraRuddy. 8 COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE OCTOBER 2016 commercialarchitecturemagazine.com Mixed-use buildings can benefit from intelligent lighting, thanks to new technology that can scale from small spaces to large ones. Courtesy Carrier Johnson + CULTURE, Cotsea Photography Inc. http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture October 2016