Integrated Lighting Resources

Do you have a lighting project that is worthy of ILC recognition? This webinar is for building or facility owners and managers interested in tapping into the benefits of advanced lighting systems and/or the integration of lighting with other building systems. Learn how to access practical resources, gain access to technical assistance and guidance, and receive recognition for your advanced lighting projects. Speakers introduced new recognition categories and explained how to successfully submit your project for recognition. Join other industry professionals like you who are using advanced lighting to improve energy efficiency, operations, and occupant comfort.

This report from the Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) summarizes 5 field evaluations conducted with the DesignLights Consortium demonstrating the potential energy saving capability of a sampling of advanced lighting control systems in real-world environments.

Potential non-lighting energy and operational benefits associated with advanced lighting controls (ALCs) and provides decision makers with a justification to specify integrated building systems.

Healthcare Campus Recognized for Innovative Use of Lighting Sensors and Controls

With a large portfolio of buildings, college campuses present a unique opportunity to adopt connected lighting systems for the benefit of the students, professors, administrative staff, and the public. And that’s just what both California State University, Dominguez Hills (Cal State Dominguez Hills) and the University of Minnesota did. Cal State Dominguez Hills wanted to decrease energy costs at James L. Welch Hall (Cal State), a four-story building housing multiple functions, including administrative and admission offices, classrooms, tech support, server rooms, and a police station. The University of Minnesota had similar goals for Jones Hall (UMN), one of their mixed-use buildings on campus with a combination of offices, classrooms, and public space.

This fact sheet covers the potential for deeper energy savings and occupant comfort through the integration of lighting controls and automated shading. Research conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found an annual energy savings up to 30% in controlled zones compared to a baseline lighting system. Furthermore, occupant comfort (i.e., non-energy benefit) potential was identified, as the system maintained an acceptable level of Daylight Glare Probability at almost all times and maintained illuminance at the workplane at all times.

This presentation from Michael Myer, Lighting Researcher at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, covers energy savings potential for lighting systems integrated with HVAC and plug loads, reviewing findings from several field project case studies conducted on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy.

This report collected, aggregated, and analyzed zone- and fixture-level energy monitoring interval data from networked lighting controls (NLC) systems in 114 buildings across a variety of building types in North America, representing over 1,200 zones with an average of 60 days of monitoring data per building.

System Program Manuals and Assessment Methods:  LBNL researchers worked with three sets of Utilities to identify and develop validated protocols for specific building systems. The selected systems were: automated shading integrated with lighting and HVAC controls (working with ComEd in Chicago), task/ambient lighting retrofit integrated with plug load occupancy controls (working with California POUs, NCPA and SCPPA), and workstation-specific lighting with daylight dimming systems (working with Xcel Energy in Colorado and Minnesota).

IMEG, a national engineering and design consulting firm, put innovation to the test when designing their new Chicago office. In collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), IMEG implemented several emerging lighting techniques as part of a study to better understand the physiological and psychological impacts on occupant comfort, well-being, and energy savings.

The California Lighting Technology Center, in collaboration with the California Energy Commission, is conducting research to develop and evaluate technology that integrates automated controls for HVAC, electric lighting and dynamic fenestration systems.

The Integrated Lighting Campaign (ILC) confers recognition each year to organizations that are helping drive the adoption of advanced lighting systems and the integration of lighting with other buildings and business systems. Supporters (e.g., utilities, designers, ESCOs, energy efficiency organizations, and manufacturers) help the campaign identify and recruit exemplary projects that may be eligible for recognition from DOE. Learn about the new recognition categories for Participants and opportunities available to Supporters, including recognition available as an Exemplary Supporter or DEI Champion and how your products and/or services may be featured in a future case study. For more please visit Better Buildings.

Interested in submitting a lighting project for recognition to the Integrated Lighting Campaign? Learn about the recognition categories, four of which are new in 2023. Participants and Supporters now have more opportunity than ever to get recognized by DOE!

This paper describes emerging plug and process load technologies, the characteristics necessary for successful integration into EMIS platforms, and research questions the U.S. Department of Energy and the national laboratories can pursue to rapidly advance the state of the art.

In May 2024, GSA updated its P100 FACILITIES STANDARDS FOR THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS SERVICE to no longer allow Type B TLEDs, which have internal LED drivers and are wired directly to line voltage. The update is due to safety and incompatibility concerns. Green Proving Ground has updated and published a new version of the “LED Lighting and Controls Guidance for Federal Buildings” document to reflect this recent P100 guidance.

This case study follows the process and outcome of designing and implementing a new LED lighting system for a leading multi-brand auto dealership in Des Moines, Iowa. This project shows the many capabilities and benefits of an LED lighting and control system when guided by careful lighting design, control system configuration, and utility rebate knowledge.

The Lighting Controls Association offers free, comprehensive online education about lighting controls technology and application.

This course, available through Lighting Controls Association, an ILC Organizing and Supporting partner, is offered via its Education Express program.  Learn more about the Education Express program by filtering “Webinars | Training” on the right panel.

NextEnergy's Lighting Technology Energy Solutions (LiTES) Program, a three-year public-private partnership with the DOE, DTE, Consumers Energy, and IBEW.
The LiTES Program sought to reduce energy use in small and medium commercial buildings by accelerating the adoption of advanced/networked lighting controls (ALC/NLC) through contractor training and technology deployment. Leveraging recommendations already outlined by the Design Lights Consortium Commercial Advanced Lighting Controls (DLC CALC) project, NextEnergy led an effort to train contractors, evaluate the experience of ALC/NLC demonstration projects, identify opportunities to reduce market barriers, and accelerate the increased adoption of ALC/NLC technologies within SMCB, which represent 90% of the U.S. commercial building stock.

NextEnergy led an effort to train contractors, evaluate the experience of ALC/NLC demonstration projects, identify opportunities to reduce market barriers, and accelerate the increased adoption of ALC/NLC technologies within small and medium commercial buildings (SMCB). The LiTES Program defined SMCB as commercial buildings under 100,000 square feet. The LiTES Program efforts also included evaluating current ALC/NLC utility incentives, piloting ALC/NLC incentives specific to SMCB, and identifying opportunities to better align utility incentives with current ALC/NLC technology to support accelerating the adoption of ALC/NLC in SMCB.

The LiTES Program  sought to reduce energy use in small and medium commercial buildings (SMCB) by accelerating the adoption of ALC/NLC through contractor training and technology deployment. Leveraging recommendations already outlined by the DesignLights Consortium Commercial Advanced Lighting Controls (DLC CALC) project, NextEnergy, in coordination with partners, led an effort to train contractors and evaluate the experience of ALC/NLC system demonstration projects in small and medium commercial buildings.

In coordination with utility partners Consumers Energy and DTE Energy (DTE), LiITES led an effort to pilot and evaluate current utility incentives and identify opportunities to align incentives with current advanced lighting controls technology. The LiTES Program piloted utility incentives for advanced/networked lighting controls specific to SMCB and sought to identify opportunities for improvement.

East Coast Municipalities Recognized for Advanced Use of Sensors and Controls for Lighting.

NEEA Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Infographic for 2022 Recognition.

The Networked Lighting Controls QPL is a list of networked lighting control systems that meet annually updated performance and efficiency specifications. The list is designed to facilitate the widespread adoption of the technology by equipping utilities to optimize energy savings and integrate control systems into their incentive programs. The QPL is also a tool for architects, specifiers, engineers, and contractors to evaluate and compare control systems for their projects and programs.

Networked Lighting Controls Qualified Products List

Networked Lighting Control Systems that have been qualified by the DLC^® to meet the Lighting Control System specifications.  The DLC's Networked Lighting Controls QPL identifies systems that are eligible for utility rebates and incentives by meeting minimum DLC technical requirements. Containing 22 categories of both required and reported system capabilities, the QPL also serves as a product comparison tool for architects, specifiers, engineers, and contractors.

Indoor farming, or controlled environment agriculture (CEA), is an energy and resource intensive process but has the potential to produce high value crops at maximum productivity and resource efficiency when ideal growing conditions are met. To meet ideal growing conditions, the facility’s horticultural systems, like lighting, HVAC, and humidity must be finely tuned and controlled. Integrating these systems can yield synergistic energy savings and, just like commercial facilities, the lighting system and controls can serve as a solid foundation for integration through data collection via sensors and providing a network interface. Watch to learn from the Better Buildings Lighting Systems Technology Research Team and two Integrated Lighting Campaign Recognized partners, University of Vermont and Vertical Harvest Farms, as they share their success stories in integrating their lighting with horticultural controls.

This presentation from Kenny Seeton, Central Plant Manager at California State University – Dominguez Hills, covers the opportunities and benefits of occupancy-based unified controls using Welch Hall as a case study.  Kenny discusses the basis of controls design process, matching lighting and HVAC zones, and energy savings opportunities of integrating lighting with a building automation system.

Fact sheet of three-month study of NREL's Research Support Facility (RSF) that demonstrated that a device inventory and a limited device-level metering effort can produce a disaggregated plug load breakdown, uncovering energy savings opportunities. This study is limited to the RSF, however, and should be validated in other buildings to see if the method is generally effective.

The Lighting Research Center investigated potential opportunities for using lighting controls to reduce HVAC energy using lighting sensors in commercial buildings. Research report conducted for the Lighting Energy Alliance. 

This resource assists decision-makers in understanding how networked lighting control system attributes can satisfy project objectives at an appropriate cost and functionality. It is intended for members of the project team involved in the design and selection of lighting control systems, especially team members with limited-to-moderate controls experience.

Success with lighting controls depends on establishing clearly defined objectives and taking a disciplined approach to design and implementation. This practical guide describes four common use cases for lighting controls and outlines the implementation process, from planning through maintenance. These recommended best practices reflect the experience of practitioners and serve to reduce complexity and the likelihood of problems when installing and using lighting controls.

Connected lighting systems provide a platform where integrated control of lighting and other systems can enhance building performance. With detailed information, coordinated systems can deliver lower operating costs and improved return on capital, as well as enhanced occupant wellbeing and productivity.

Vertical Harvest Farms Infographic for 2022 ILC Recognition

This class examines examples of integrating lighting controls with other building controls, primarily HVAC. Rather than presenting a set of established best practices, it reviews a few notable case studies of commercial and institutional buildings where integration has been both successful and challenging. Presenters describe the design process, how key decision points were identified, and how issues were resolved. They also cover Owners Project Requirements, Basis of Design, and Sequence of Operations, and report on commissioning and post occupancy evaluations.

This presentation from Kandice Cohen, Director of Lighting Strategy at Trane Technologies, covers the reasons integrating lighting systems is beneficial, using a “Baker’s Dozen” commercial kitchen as a case study.  Kandice discusses the integration of the connected lighting control system with the building automation system and how it meets the customer’s needs.

GSA's GPG program commissioned LBNL to assess wreless ALC at two federal sites in Northern California.  Results showed 54% normalized energy savings for GSA when fluorescent lamps with dimmable ballasts were retrofitted with wireless ALC, and 78% when the wireless ALC retrofit was coupled with LED fixtures. Wireless ALC integrated with LED fixtures is recommended for new construction and renovations, with simple payback between 3 and 6 years. It should also be considered for retrofits in facilities with minimal existing controls, high lighting energy usage, and high electricity costs.

GSA’s Green Proving Ground program recently assessed the potential of wireless sensor technology to provide a cost-effective and facilities-friendly way of helping data center operators visualize and implement system changes that reduce overall energy consumption. Findings include significant cost savings, as well as a substantial reduction in cooling load and CO2 emissions.  Sensors utilizing a wireless mesh network and data management software to capture and graphically display real time conditions for energy optimization were installed in a demonstration project.

This ZNE Technology Application (TA) Guide provides an overview of luminaire level lighting control (LLLC). The full LLLC approach provides controllability at each fixture with real-time energy tracking and data collection, and it aligns with current trends and interests in space utilization, occupant satisfaction and productivity. This TA guide describes the system, features and benefits, energy performance from both modeled and measured results, application considerations, costs and trends.