Sustain OC recently held Shedding Light: Innovation & Adoption in the Dynamic World of Lighting at the Cove @ UCI, highlighting technological advances in the lighting industry. Led by various prominent members of the lighting technology community, the symposium talked about how innovations in lighting are being utilized to increase sustainability and energy efficiency. Presentations covered topics such as lighting controls, internet of things (IoT), financial strategies, and emerging trends.
“Lighting accounts for roughly 60 percent of energy spent in cities, and if we can bring that down, we can build less power stations,” said Garret Anthony, business development, FTS Lighting. “People try to keep the world in a good homeostasis; the less inefficient lights, the better.”
The first portion of the event focused on the latest in LEDs and integrated systems along with lighting controls and IoT, reviewing existing LED technologies and how they are incorporated into new control systems. During one of the panel sessions, Nathan Reed, regional sales manager, Lunera, spoke of the importance in ‘future-proofing’ current technologies, maximizing energy savings and minimizing costs. The panel stressed the integration of advanced controls within existing technology, ensuring future innovations will be easily fused with current ones.
Joe Portera, lighting control specialist, Performance Lighting Systems, highlighted the use of IoT. During his presentation, he discussed fusing together Bluetooth and cloud-based lighting system technology to collect data that can be used to analyze customer behavior. He said this information adds value for companies who want to generate higher revenue and improve marketing strategies.
The second segment focused on the financial aspect of lighting technology. Shiva Subramanya, principal, Enpowered Solutions, among other key speakers, explained the Edison Local Capacity Requirements program, which offers Edison customers financial incentives to reduce electricity costs by retrofitting lighting fixtures. The savings obtained through these measures can fund reinvestments for higher technology that will save both energy and monetary expenditures in the future. Amrit Peck, owner of Energy Outlet, a company that aids contractors through the rebate process, spoke about rebate programs and how they serve as incentives to update light fixtures in buildings.
At the event’s closing, a panel discussed lighting industry trends, challenges, results, and opportunities. Chris Smith, director, office and industry systems and services sales and David Theriault, business development manager, public sector, both representatives of Philips Lighting, North America, talked about how implementing connected lighting technology throughout cities can improve safety, traffic and save energy.
“By 2025, 35% of our lighting will be connected,” said David Theriault. “To create a smart city it takes more than a lighting company, it takes citizens, businesses, leadership, and educating everybody what the possibilities are.”
Adam Feuerstein, manager of project services, facilities management, UCI listed the sustainable changes made throughout the university campus, such as installing occupancy sensors throughout buildings and standardizing pathway fixtures. Plans for implementing Power over Ethernet (POE) technology in the near future was also mentioned, which would generate greater energy savings and reduce routine maintenance.
The future of lighting technology is bright, with promises towards total sustainability and reduced energy usage throughout schools, buildings and whole cities. For more news updates at the Cove, visit here.