A recent survey by Precision-Paragon revealed that approximately 48 percent of lighting projects use automatic lighting controls. The controls are beneficial for lighting projects because they're energy-efficient and ensure lights are on only when needed.
At least 25 percent of lighting professionals also plan to use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a dominant light source in 2013. LEDs are expected to make up 25 percent of the global lighting market by 2014, Precision-Paragon's survey found.
Several LED companies are shifting their focus to controlled lighting for industrial and commercial buildings, according to Greentech Media. Now contractors can take advantage of new lighting sources that weren't always available for the commercial industry.
Lighting controls can include applications such as motion sensors and granular monitoring systems tracking occupancy, light quality, temperature, humidity and building energy consumption, the source reported. The smart lighting systems allow businesses to save money on energy costs by reducing their energy consumption.
Technology surrounding LED lighting is continuing to develop at quicker rates than previously experienced. As a result, they are becoming more energy-efficient and cost-effective.
Approximately 48 percent of those who responded the survey said they recorded modest growth in energy-efficient lighting revenue in 2012. And that growth is only expected to continue because 77 percent of survey respondents said they believe they'll experience modest or substantial growth in energy-efficient lighting revenues this year, a 7 percent increase from last year's survey.
Increase productivity with Lutron lighting controls
Commercial spaces can avoid wasting energy and even increase employee productivity by installing lighting controls from Lutron. By allowing employees to dim the lights themselves, productivity and motivation can increase by as much as 10 percent, according to Lutron.
Employees also often times choose to dim the lights when they have the option – a move that can contribute to additional energy savings.
Lutron helped The New York Times Company produce an energizing work environment and reduce energy consumption with lighting controls. After the occupancy sensors were installed, the company was able to save more than $600,000 in annual electric costs and reduce its energy consumption by more than 70 percent.
