Smart technology is threading steadily across the commercial real estate (CRE) sector. The global pandemic in 2020 and its aftermath have made the commercial sector rethink functionality and health security. As a result, the need for flexible, cost-effective, yet dependable solutions has become more conspicuous. One area that is seeing a particular shift in that direction is wireless lighting control.
Additionally, standards organizations and industry alliances, such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest professional association for innovation and technological excellence, and the DALI Alliance, the global industry organization for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) lighting control, are also promoting wireless lighting control. Unlike wired lighting control that uses low-voltage hardwiring to transmit the control signals between the different devices, wireless lighting control uses radio waves. As a result, the wireless devices form a communication mesh that enables the easy and secure addition, removal, and replacement of devices. This last feature leads to the main benefits of wireless lighting control, namely fast and easy installation, greater scalability and flexibility, and cost reductions. The fast and easy installation and maintenance make wireless lighting control suitable for both renovation and new-build projects. For new constructions, wireless control allows for both added value, flexibility, and energy savings, as well as meeting stricter energy codes and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements. For renovations, wireless lighting control could be specifically beneficial when retrofitting an existing wired lighting system. The latter approach appears to be more time- and cost-effective than replacing all the cables and conduits. In terms of scalability, wireless lighting control enables owners to test the technology at a scale matching their needs: from a single device to a whole municipality. For example, by simply exchanging the line voltage controls for wireless switches and multi-function touchscreen controllers, they could enhance a space, a building, or an entire campus. Wireless lighting control scalability and flexibility also come in handy with the significant change in how people use commercial spaces. Previously, hundreds of people gathered in the office. Nowadays, especially in the pandemic and post-pandemic contexts, it is not uncommon for premises to stay empty or with limited, sporadically spread occupancy. Unfortunately, wired lighting control turns out to be unable to keep up with this dynamic. Wireless systems with embedded sensors, individualized controls, and robust security protocols enable facilities managers to oversee lighting remotely. Furthermore, without the help of electricians, they could add controls for new technology like ultraviolet-C disinfecting lamps or optimize the controls of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems via the wireless occupancy sensors to employ airflows that minimize airborne pathogen transmission. Finally, wireless lighting controls allow systems to leverage human-centric lighting. The latter is a holistic approach that explores how the lighting in a given built setting impacts occupants’ well-being and productivity. For example, lighting temperature and color could be fine-tuned to match the amount of sunlight during the day and thus, minimize eye strain and general fatigue from computer screens and long days in the office.
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AuthorA fully integrated property investment and management firm, Castellan Real Estate Partners has served the greater New York City area for more than seven years. Archives
March 2022
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