A Fresh Look at LuminaireLevel Lighting Controls Craig DiLouie is education director for the Lighting Controls Association, a council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association that educates the public about lighting control technology and application (www.LightingControlsAssociation.org).
By CRAIG DILOUIE, LC, CLCP
Luminaire-level lighting controls (LLLC) are a subset of lighting controls in which control functions are integrated into luminaires, allowing individual luminaire control. This approach is highly flexible and responsive, and advanced options additionally offer connectivity to produce data-related benefits. According to a 2020 report by the DesignLights Consortium® (DLC) and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), average energy savings can exceed 60% with this approach. This article defines and describes LLLC technology, system types, advantages and disadvantages, and what’s familiar and distinctive in regards to design and installation.
The LLLC Approach
Lighting Controls Incremental Cost Study. In their report, the NEEA categorized LLLC as Clever, Smart, or Hybrid, producing informal definitions that may be helpful to visualize the offering. Clever: Clever LLLC systems satisfy basic DLC networked lighting controls requirements for dimming, occupancy sensing, daylight response, and high-end trim. Smart: Smart LLLC systems build upon Clever capabilities while adding collection and analytic capability for energy and other (e.g., occupancy) data that can be used for Internet of Things (IoT) applications such as space utilization. Hybrid: Clever-Smart hybrid LLLC systems are Clever systems with energy monitoring capabilities but not advanced data
Definitions for LLLC vary, but the common idea is sensors and control functionality being embedded into luminaires. Today, there is a wide variety of control systems designed around the approach to maximize energy savings while addressing specific user needs. In the majority of LLLC systems, the three major control elements installed in the luminaire or luminaire retrofit kit are: Sensors: The sensors may include an occupancy sensor, daylight sensor, or a multipurpose unit combining the two. Control functionality: This element may be an integral part of the LED driver(s) or a separate device that sends dimming signals to the driver(s). Wireless or wired connectivity: The luminaires may be wired via low-voltage, low-voltage digital, or power over Ethernet (PoE). Wireless connectivity is achieved via an onboard radio transmitter and receiver connecting the luminaire to an LLLC network using an accepted protocol. Depending on the system, a fourth element, centralized network hardware and software, may be added as a layer atop the LLLC luminaires. Centralized hardware may include hubs or gateways, which serve as central collection points for managing the flow of data in a network. Data may be stored to a central server or the Cloud for retrieval and analysis. In January 2021, the NEEA published the 2020 Luminaire Level
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Image courtesy of Lutron Electronics.