Though lighting represents about 17.5% of all global electricity consumption, only a small percentage of the lighting in commercial buildings is controlled by anything other than an ON/OFF switch. Intelligent lighting controls enable the lighting system to react to the actual conditions in a space, such as whether the space is occupied and how much natural light is present, and only provide the amount of artificial light that is required. According to a new report from Pike Research, the intelligent lighting controls market is experiencing strong growth, and the cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that global revenue for lighting controls will increase from $1.3 billion to $2.6 billion by 2016, under a baseline forecast scenario. Under an aggressive growth scenario, the firm estimates that the worldwide lighting controls market could grow as large as $3.5 billion within the same time period.
"A number of trends are leading to increased adoption of intelligent lighting controls," says Pike Research president Clint Wheelock. "In addition to the drive to cut energy consumption, there is recognition that lighting control systems can contribute to the pursuit of green building certifications, an interest in increasing the amount of natural light available to occupants, and a desire to provide people with more control over the light levels in their work environments."
Wheelock adds that more and more lighting control systems are networked and centrally controlled, enabling them to be connected to building energy management systems (BEMS) and Smart Grid applications. In addition, wireless technologies are providing options for implementing lighting controls in buildings where installing wired systems would not previously have been practical.
Pike Research anticipates that Office and Education buildings will be the largest markets for intelligent lighting controls over the next several years. Other significant segments include Healthcare, Retail, Hotels & Restaurants, and Institutional/Assembly. The firm forecasts that approximately 73% of lighting control systems will be installed as part of a building retrofit, while 27% will be included in new construction.
Pike Research's report, "Intelligent Lighting Controls for Commercial Buildings", describes eight different lighting control strategies and the types of applications to which they are applicable, provides an update on sensor and control technologies, and discusses different options for wireless control and integration with other building systems. In addition, the study includes forecasts for lighting control equipment revenue for nine different building types across five world regions. The report also features in-depth profiles and SWOT analyses of 24 key industry players.
