The falling cost of light-emitting diode (LED) lights for commercial buildings is driving a number of changes within the lighting controls industry. Falling prices are triggering re-lamping projects in many existing commercial buildings. Because LEDs are particularly well-suited to digital control, many building owners will decide to incorporate additional lighting intelligence - including photosensors, dimming ballasts, dimming controls, and the communications and interfaces necessary to tie controls to a building management system - while they are in the process of re-lamping. According to a recent report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant's Energy Practice, the adoption of LED lamps, along with new wireless technology, will fuel corresponding growth in the market for intelligent lighting controls.
The global market for intelligent lighting controls will expand from $1.5 billion in 2012 to more than $4.3 billion in 2020, the study concludes.
"Building-wide lighting management systems have developed rapidly over the past few years, giving building managers better tools with more information and more control," says senior research analyst Eric Bloom. "Rapid growth in sales is forcing controls vendors to develop products that can incorporate LEDs, or risk being left behind."
While centrally controlled lighting systems are on the rise, a competing trend is toward lighting systems with distributed intelligence. With the reduction in cost in miniature electronics, more sensors and control intelligence can be built directly into light fixtures. Fixtures in a room can communicate wirelessly with each other, allowing for room-level intelligence with a minimal amount of equipment, wiring, and expense. While systems like this will proliferate, the dominant trend is still expected to be greater central control as costs decrease and more building owners and managers understand the potential benefits, according to the report.
The report, "Intelligent Lighting Controls for Commercial Buildings", analyzes the global market opportunity for intelligent controls across nine building types: office, retail, education, healthcare, hotels & restaurants, institutional/assembly, warehouse, transport, and multi-unit residential. The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the demand drivers, obstacles, policy factors, and technology issues associated with the growing market for lighting controls. Key industry players are profiled in depth and worldwide revenue and capacity forecasts, segmented by building type and region, extend through 2020.
