Pike Research notes that falling LED prices are triggering re-lamping projects in many existing commercial buildings. And, 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 Pike Research, the global market for intelligent lighting controls will expand from $1.5bn in 2012 to more than $4.3bn in 2020.
“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 with Pike Research, Eric Bloom.
“Rapid growth in sales is forcing controls vendors to develop products that can incorporate LEDs, or risk being left behind.”
A Pike Research report, Intelligent Lighting Controls for Commercial Buildings points out that, 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.
