Every April, we dedicate the majority of our content to lighting & control topics. With LightFair now on a biennial schedule (2024 being an off year), the LEDucation Trade Show & Conference took center stage this year for our in-person lighting coverage. Representing our electrical group, Jim Lucy, editor-in-chief of ewweb.com, was on site reporting from the show floor. Held March 19-20 at the New York Hilton Hotel, Jim described this year’s event as having a “distinctly New York City feel” — with many aisles in the four exhibition halls jammed to the point of gridlock. Organized by the Designers Lighting Forum New York, LEDucation delivered record-breaking attendance, drawing nearly 11,000 attendees from all segments of the lighting industry. For the latest trends in lighting & control as well as highlights from this year’s event, read Jim’s in-depth show report.
With this type of active participation and engagement at LEDucation, the demand for and interest in lighting & control products continues to grow. In addition to the fixture miniaturization trend Jim identified at LEDucation, several buzzwords continue to dominate the lighting space, including connected lighting, smart lighting, and lighting-as-a-service (LaaS) — and let’s not forget about the ways in which artificial intelligence could transform this market in the future. According to sister publication LEDs Magazine, “AI systems can analyze vast amounts of data in real time, adjusting lighting settings based on factors such as occupancy, ambient light, and energy consumption.” For more information on how AI is poised to rewrite the lighting controls value proposition, read the full article.
It’s no surprise that all of the leading lighting manufacturers are devising new, creative ways to harness the power of AI and rolling those features out in new product introductions. It will definitely be exciting to see how quickly and extensively this trend develops in the next few years. I actually just saw a press release for a ground-breaking technology a few days ago from Lepro. Touted by the company as a “first of-its-kind Generative Pretrain Model for Lighting,” these smart lights adapt to end-users’ commands and emotions, offering the power to interact with intuitive controls that align with their moods and leveraging AI algorithms for a personalized lighting experience. No doubt this trend will evolve moving forward.
In addition to the LEDucation report, we’ve put together an outstanding lineup of articles in this issue that addresses the latest developments, trends, and best practices in the world of lighting & control. Starting with the latest trends in commercial lighting rebates in 2024, get the scoop from Randy Young of BriteSwitch on how to navigate the latest updates this year’s for rebates.
How does illumination stack up against other Power over Ethernet (PoE) building applications? Find out in the cover story, "Power Play." Written by Freelancer Tim Kridel, this piece explains new lighting options made possible by PoE as well as potential competition for electrical contractors from low-voltage contractors.
When it comes to lighting applications, codes and standards are always top of mind. Since different states and municipalities adhere to different versions of IECC and ASHRAE 90.1, find out why it’s critical for electrical contractors to understand what’s required and how to apply the requirements in the field in the piece written by Mike Lehman and Joe Briscoe of Leviton.
Bob Tortorello of Optec LED Lighting provides best practices for effective lighting projects. In this piece, Bob maintains design engineers and electrical contractors play an integral role with their clients, serving as an unbiased, honest broker. Read this article for detailed guidance on how to implement the most effective lighting projects.
And what type of lighting coverage would be complete without the latest new products introduced to market? See the lighting-focused product showcase for the latest.
I can’t wait to see what transpires in the next trip around the sun in the lighting & control space — until next year.
