I recently had the opportunity to interview Nishad Chikhliker, Segment and Commercialization Marketing Manager, Connected Buildings, Eaton’s Lighting Division, on the topic of quality lighting. The interview informed an article I wrote for the May 2019 issue of tED Magazine.
DiLouie: I am increasingly seeing industry leaders voicing concern that the industry has strayed from its focus on end-users and needs to return to promoting lighting quality. Do you agree with this assessment?
Chikhliker: This depends on whether the definition of quality lighting includes connected lighting systems. Promoting lighting quality is important and is increasingly becoming more of a need for customers, and we’re delivering fixtures that support this need. Having quality lighting on its own is important, but the availability of integrated connected lighting systems means there is more to it. Connected lighting maximizes the physical real estate of the lighting fixture to add sensing and communication to generate even more incremental value for the customer.
At the end of the day, quality lighting and connected lighting are linked. A poor performing lighting fixture with integrated connected lighting technology will reduce the value of the connected system. Quality, high-performing lighting fixtures go hand-in-hand with connected lighting systems.
DiLouie: Part of the challenge with quality lighting is it’s hard to define. How do you define it?
Chikhliker: I define quality lighting as connected lighting, that leverages the real estate of the physical light fixture to increase building, business and community operating efficiency through controls and data. It goes beyond controlling lights – it’s also solving higher complexity problems enabled by sensing and communication capabilities within the light fixture itself.
DiLouie: What are five+ major attributes of a quality lighting project?
Chikhliker: First and foremost, quality lighting projects start with LED light fixtures. The major attributes should include:
1. Optimal light uniformity, as you want an even amount of light being distributed from the fixture.
2. Superior visual comfort, or glare control. Incandescent or fluorescent lighting is typically very hot, meaning very bright. A quality lighting fixture would have a soft, natural look even though it’s an LED fixture.
3. Highly efficient LED system, meaning a system that provides energy savings.
4. Contemporary design and styling, so the look and feel of the fixture is modern, not necessarily archaic as some of the old fluorescent fixtures can look.
5. Connected lighting capabilities. For a true quality lighting product, you need these fixture attributes, but also need the ability to offer connected lighting.
DiLouie: What are the benefits of quality lighting?
Chikhliker: The benefits of quality lighting include soft natural light, energy savings and architectural style aesthetics that don’t draw undue attention to the ceiling. You want lighting that is aesthetically pleasing while blending into the environment.
Additional benefits with connected lighting include occupancy and daylight harvesting which result in energy savings, space utilization, asset tracking and basic code compliance.
DiLouie: What are the attributes of a lighting product best suited to produce quality lighting?
Chikhliker: High efficacy, or high lumens per watt, is a key attribute to a quality lighting fixture as that results in energy savings. You’ll have more light generated using less energy. High CRI (color rendering index), which equates to color quality is also important. The higher the CRI, the better the light’s color quality.
The ability to offer flexibility with color temperatures is another attribute of a quality lighting product. Some systems and fixtures are tunable, allowing end users to change the color temperature depending on the time of day, mood or environment desired. This would fit into quality lighting as well.
The ability for connected lighting systems, which feature integrated sensors as part of the fixture, to enable the communication and data-gathering, is another example of quality lighting.
DiLouie: One of the disadvantages of quality lighting is typically a higher cost. How does quality lighting demonstrate value and ROI, and how can owners evaluate it?
Chikhliker: A key feature of quality lighting is utilizing highly efficient LEDs, which offers demonstrable ROI in the form of reduced energy consumption. Energy costs are reduced, with up to 60 percent energy savings with an LED troffer versus a fluorescent troffer, and it can make an end user eligible for energy rebate savings available through utilities or municipalities.
A quality system with connected lighting is a different challenge. Connected lighting is an incremental cost to the customer – taking a quality fixture and adding a sensor naturally increases the price. However, connected lighting systems provide many avenues for owners to demonstrate additional ROI and value that can far exceed the initial investment. Some connected lighting systems offer the ability to control heating and cooling systems, which can reduce HVAC operating costs. Asset tracking capabilities are also available, which allow productivity gains by saving time looking for equipment, for example. Space utilization capabilities also provide ROI. For example, building owners leasing a space can increase their utilization rate by using real-time data to see how much a space is used and making smart business decisions with this data.
DiLouie: What are the advantages for electrical distributors to become more aware of quality lighting issues and promote top-tier products?
Chikhliker: Electrical distributors who stock quality lighting products have an advantage, as these top-end products provide instant credibility with their customers, because they’ve identified and selected products that will save customers time and money.
DiLouie: What can electrical distributors do to become more educated about quality lighting?
Chikhliker: Engaging with manufacturers who produce quality lighting is key. Whether engaging with the sales representative or a company’s communication platforms – news, social media, and blogs such as Eaton’s Lighting reSOURCE – we are always trying to share our product innovations with the electrical distribution community. Being open to that engagement is a great way to continuously learn about quality lighting.
I also encourage distributors interested in further education to explore Eaton’s SOURCE Lighting Education Center, which has been setting the bar for professional lighting education for more than 20 years. The state-of-the-art facility in Peachtree City, Georgia offers numerous seminars and workshops on a wide variety of lighting topics and showcases the latest technological advancements in lighting.
DiLouie: What role can lighting controls (and possibly the Internet of Things) play as partners with good lighting to enhance lighting quality?
Chikhliker: Having a quality, high-performing fixture is important but integrating connected lighting systems is what maximizes the real estate of the fixture to deliver added ROI and generate additional value for the customer. As mentioned, connected lighting delivers added benefits to the customer including energy savings, enhanced productivity and code compliance.
DiLouie: If you could tell the entire electrical industry just one thing about quality lighting, what would it be?
Chikhliker: At the end of the day, choose LED. If planning a retrofit or starting a new construction project, know that LEDs offer a multitude of benefits over incandescent technology. Also, don’t let the incremental costs of connected lighting dissuade you from making the investment, knowing the building owner will see significant added value by making that move.
