SPECIAL FEATURE
SMART LIGHTING & LIGHTING CONTROL
LED LIGHTING — A REVELATION Amanda Speight, Business Development Manager at energy efficient LED lighting manufacturer CFE Lighting, explains how lighting systems are becoming increasingly smart and what this means for electrical contractors.
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hen it was invented, more than 150 years ago, lighting had an incredible impact, increasing the length of the average workday and changing how people saw things, did business and led their daily lives. But the lighting revolution didn’t stop there – far from it. The incandescent filament lamps that were used to light buildings for over a century were replaced in the 70s by compact fluorescent light (CFL) lamps in an effort to conserve more energy during the oil crisis. Thirty years later and change was once again afoot, this time thanks to the introduction of a new, energy saving technology – the light-emitting-diode.
The rise of the LED light LED lighting has been a revelation; it is increasingly being used across the commercial, industrial and public sectors to improve environmental footprints and drive down energy consumption and the costs associated with it. In addition, LED lights are more eco-friendly and far better for the circular economy than fluorescent and high-density discharge (HID) lamps, since they contain no mercury or other harmful gasses and don’t emit any harmful UV rays. Unsurprisingly, demand for this technology shows no sign of slowing, with a recent report* stating that the global LED market size is poised to grow by $25.78 billion during 2020-2024. But replacing incandescent or CFL lamps with LED units is the tip of the iceberg in terms of what businesses can do to drive down the energy and environmental costs attached to their lighting use. Technology has created new opportunities, making lighting smarter than ever.
What is smart lighting? Quite simply, it’s about adding intelligence or logic to luminaires so that lighting can communicate and interact with the environment. Intelligent lighting controls, or smart systems, have advanced
significantly in recent years and now represent an excellent solution for businesses and homeowners looking to improve their environmental footprints and drive down their energy consumption. Such systems can be used to dim or turn off unnecessary lighting using motion-detecting sensors, delivering a myriad of benefits, including net energy savings of between 70-90%, increased lighting control and performance, and access to real-time data to inform operating decisions. CFE Lighting is already seeing a shift away from standalone LED lighting measures and a move towards more integrated system solutions that comprise of LED and networked lighting controls, and the company has configured its offering accordingly. A good example of how integrated systems are being effectively used is the Smart City Lighting Systems that are being introduced in various areas in the UK. These systems are being used to not only provide a safe illuminated roadway, but also to collect data through controls and sensors which can be used to better manage service efficiencies, assets and resources. It means that the lighting network exists as a multi-purpose solution, shining light in the right areas, at the right times, whilst also collecting valuable data on areas ranging from air quality, temperature and wind speed through to people counting, crowd noise and population density.
What does this mean for electrical contractors?
Demand for smart lighting systems will only increase
“LED lighting has been a revelation; it is increasingly being used to improve environmental footprints and drive down energy consumption“
All of the evidence suggests that demand for smart lighting systems will only increase as more and more users become aware of the huge financial, social and environmental benefits such systems are capable of delivering. Lighting systems are no longer something that you manually turn on and off, they are more intelligent than ever before, particularly when it comes to them being adaptable and interoperable. Indeed, one of the main advantages of smart lighting is that it can be adapted according to requirements, whether that’s through time scheduling and
sensor activation, or building automation and energy management systems. Its versatility means it can be applied in any environment to suit any needs. Depending on your project, you’ll either be looking at a retrofit option, which could be wireless, or you’ll need a fully wired solution. It has to be designed around the inhabitants and how they use the space – there’s no sense in creating a bespoke solution if it doesn’t work for them. Whichever route you choose, it’s important to have a good understanding of the various technologies available and the differing capabilities they offer – something CFE Lighting is well-placed to help with. And finally, don’t be put off by the myth that a lot can go wrong with installs. Systems have developed to such an extent over the last few years that they are now easier than ever to install. And while there are obvious challenges when it comes to installing any new technology, a good supplier/manufacturer will provide you with all the support and help you need to ensure your system is working exactly as it should. CFE Lighting, cfe-lighting.co.uk *Technavio, LED Market by Application, Product, and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024
SMART IP66 OUTDOOR SWITCHED SOCKET • Control up to 2 outdoor appliances • Manual Override via the switches on the socket • Range: 20m-40m (depending on Wi-Fi signal coverage)
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