The Design Lights Consortium (DLC) has published a new Lighting Controls Best Practices document that explains five basic networked lighting control (NLC) strategies: dimming, high-end trim, occupancy/vacancy sensing, scheduling, and daylight harvesting and gives an overview of how to implement them to maximize energy savings.

The guide is written to describe each of these strategies and how implementers or installers can maximize savings and avoid incentive denials. Some takeaways include:

• Dimming is easy to implement, necessary for other control strategies, and comes standard on the vast majority of light fixtures.
• High-end trim saves energy without the end user noticing. The ideal range is 60%-80% of the total light output of a fixture.
• Occupancy/vacancy sensing turns the lights off when people aren’t around. NLCs allow sensors to be grouped together to reduce unexpected lights off events.
• Scheduling can overcome challenges with other strategies. Have a detailed conversation with your client to customize lighting schedules to their needs.
• For LLLC-style systems, daylight harvesting can provide additional energy savings with minimal extra investment. Be sure to follow the proper calibration procedures from each system’s manufacturer.

The DLC Lighting Control Best Practices document can be downloaded here.

Image: DLC

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and President of Lighting Solution Development, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has co-chaired ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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