By Bagwat Mohan, Technical Operations Manager, DesignLights Consortium
As energy efficiency and sustainability continue to shape the future of commercial buildings in the U.S., Networked Lighting Controls (NLC) have emerged as a transformative technology in the lighting industry. The 2020 Lighting Market Characterization Study, published by the Department of Energy reports that lighting consumes approximately 168 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy in commercial buildings, about 70% of which do not utilize lighting controls. This indicates a significant untapped potential for growth. NLC systems, when properly implemented, can reduce lighting energy consumption by about 50% on average, contributing directly to carbon reduction targets. For building owners and operators, this translates to reduced energy bills and lower maintenance requirements.
Not only do NLCs enable significant energy savings and reduce operational costs, but their advanced capabilities for integration with other systems—such as HVAC—are opening new possibilities for building management. As the NLC market expands, the DesignLights Consortium’s (DLC) Networked Lighting Controls Qualified Products List (NLC QPL) is playing a pivotal role in supporting informed decision-making, fostering integration, and driving successful installations. The DLC is a nonprofit that develops resources to reduce energy use, carbon emissions, and light pollution. Below, we’ll explore the latest trends in NLC adoption, the role of the NLC QPL, and the benefits NLCs bring to specifiers, contractors, manufacturers, and trade allies.
NLC Trends in the U.S. Commercial Market
Driven by both regulatory pressures and the promise of operational savings, the NLC market has gradually expanded in recent years, with increasing adoption in the U.S. commercial market. Key trends shaping this market include:
Integration with Building Systems: Integrating NLCs with other building systems such as HVAC facilitates data sharing between the two systems, optimizing both lighting and heating/cooling and creating a synergistic effect. NLCs integrated with HVAC systems can adjust lighting and temperature based on occupancy patterns and daylight levels, resulting in optimized energy use and occupant comfort.
Emphasis on Interoperability: As building systems become more connected, the need for interoperability between various systems is more critical than ever. NLCs that can work with existing Building Management Systems (BMS) offer flexibility and long-term value, ensuring they remain relevant as new technologies emerge.
Growth in Utility-Supported Programs: Many utilities and energy efficiency programs across North America offer incentives for NLC adoption. The DLC’s NLC QPL, used by over 150 energy efficiency programs, serves as a trusted resource for these programs, offering assurance that listed products meet rigorous criteria for energy efficiency, reliability, and network security. As market saturation of LED lighting becomes more prevalent, these rebate programs will be shifting away from stand-alone lamp and luminaire rebates and requiring lighting controls to be eligible for any lighting project.
The Role of the NLC QPL in Supporting HVAC Integration
The NLC QPL, a free resource from the DLC, is essential in helping the industry navigate the growing landscape of networked lighting options. This database provides comprehensive listing of NLC systems and their capabilities, vetted for quality and performance, that also includes information on advanced integration capabilities such as HVAC connectivity. In the last two years, we have seen a 45% increase in NLCs qualifying for the QPL and the list keeps expanding. This reflects growing realization of the broader building operational benefits NLCs provide beyond energy savings, as well as the industry’s trust in the QPL.
Why the NLC QPL Matters in Your Work
Specifiers and Contractors: The NLC QPL is a starting point where available NLC systems can be compared based on their capabilities, ensuring selection of the right system for each project’s unique requirements. Specifiers and contractors can also leverage the QPL’s detailed data to choose NLC systems capable of HVAC integration, making it easier to select solutions that optimize building performance and align with energy efficiency goals.
Manufacturers: The NLC QPL represents an essential benchmark for lighting controls, as listed products meet the highest standards for energy efficiency and security. Being listed in the QPL offers manufacturers credibility and visibility, demonstrating compliance with rigorous technical requirements. This can lead to increased adoption of their products by utilities, contractors, and specifiers, helping manufacturers expand their market reach and strengthen reputations in a competitive industry.
The DLC continually seeks to understand the evolving needs of specifiers and contractors, manufacturers and utilities to refine the QPL, tailoring it to provide even more relevant data and insights that support informed decision-making. Our goal is to equip these professionals with the resources they need for successful NLC installations that meet client expectations for energy efficiency, reliability, and integration.
Challenges in NLC-HVAC Integration
The NLC-HVAC integration presents several challenges, primarily due to the complexity of merging two distinct types of building systems that have traditionally operated independently. Some key obstacles include:
Shortage of Skilled Integrators: Integration requires a skilled workforce (known as system integrators) with specialized knowledge of both NLC and HVAC systems. A shortage of these professionals has posed a challenge to adoption.
Lack of Awareness and Understanding: Building owners and operators may not fully understand the benefits of NLC-HVAC integration or the long-term operational and energy efficiency advantages it provides. This limited awareness can lead to slower adoption, as decision-makers might be hesitant to invest in an unfamiliar strategy.
Regional Variability in Payback Periods: The financial benefits of NLC-HVAC integration vary significantly by region, largely due to differences in electricity rates. In areas with lower electricity prices, the potential savings from reduced energy use are less substantial, leading to longer payback periods for building owners. This regional disparity makes utilities in lower-cost energy areas less motivated to incentivize NLC-HVAC integration within their efficiency programs, as the return on investment is lower. As a result, building owners in these regions may hesitate to adopt integrated solutions, as they face a slower path to recouping initial installation costs, which ultimately slows broader market adoption of NLC-HVAC systems.
Higher Initial Costs: NLC-HVAC integration often involves additional costs related to specialized equipment, design, and installation. These upfront expenses can deter building owners, especially when the return on investment is not immediately clear. Although integrated systems offer significant savings over time, the initial costs can be a barrier to adoption.
The DLC is actively pursuing initiatives to address these barriers, by bridging the gap between the lighting and HVAC industries. Our aim is to promote the integration of NLC with HVAC for simplifying building management and reducing carbon emissions through lighting controls.
Role of Trade Ally Networks in Successful NLC Installations
Trade ally networks—comprised of trained contractors, distributors, manufacturer representatives and other installation experts recognized by energy efficiency programs—are instrumental in ensuring the success of NLC installations. These networks can provide building owners and facility managers with access to professionals who understand the nuances of NLC installation and integration with HVAC and other systems. By working closely with trade allies, utilities and efficiency program implementers can ensure that NLC systems are installed correctly and optimized for maximum performance.
Trade allies receive training in both NLC technology and energy efficiency programs, allowing them to support building owners in selecting and installing systems that best meet their needs. With their expertise, they help clients overcome barriers such as lack of technical knowledge, to ensure that installations maximize energy savings, reduce operational costs, and improve occupant comfort.
Conclusion
As the demand for energy efficient, integrated building systems grows, NLCs offer commercial buildings a pathway to reduced energy use, operational savings, and enhanced comfort. With its comprehensive data and vetted product listings, the NLC QPL empowers specifiers, contractors, and utilities to make informed decisions that drive energy efficiency and sustainability. Now more than ever, leveraging the power of NLCs and the QPL is key to creating a future of high-performing, energy efficient spaces. Specifiers, contractors and other professionals can create a free MyDLC account and then explore the NLC QPL to find trusted products that meet the highest standards for performance and integration—laying the foundation for tomorrow’s sustainable buildings.
About The Author
Bagwat Mohan is Technical Operations Manager at DesignLights Consortium, where he manages the day-to-day operations of the Networked Lighting Controls Qualified Products List and oversees the qualification requirements and compliance to ensure data integrity of the NLC QPL.
All images: DesignLights.org
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