Taking the path toward efficient lighting solutions once meant hitting a wall — literally.

Concrete, stone, brick and asbestos-laden glue tiles formed physical obstacles to installation and maintenance within aging buildings in desperate need of upgrades. All the while, facility managers navigated other challenges at every turn — from shrinking budgets to temperamental circuits — as they tried to transition to modern infrastructure.

But an evolving technology, and its lowering costs, is breaking these barriers at a pivotal moment.

In an era defined by the urgency of climate change and sustainability goals, innovative lighting controls emerge as crucial tools for impactful efficiency projects.

Luminaire level lighting controls (LLLCs) in particular have proven to deliver. They offer simple installation, unparalleled flexibility and significant energy savings — surpassing traditional lighting control systems.

Recent advancements in LLLCs have led electrical distributors to double their specifications in just the past three years. Unlike manual switches or basic occupancy sensors, LLLCs integrate directly into individual light fixtures. Each luminaire has its own sensor and controller, allowing for precise control and monitoring at the fixture level. Additionally, LLLCs’ integration capabilities extend beyond lighting, enhancing systems, such as HVAC units, and amplifying efficiencies across building operations.

When it comes to simplifying efficiency projects, the journey for FMs is now bright: LLLC is the technology ready to meet the moment, a true unsung hero of the renovation market.

Current state

As the natural environment undergoes profound change, the built environments have largely remained the same. Once celebrated as architectural marvels, these aging buildings and structures now symbolize the constraint of outdated systems, but within them lie opportunities for renewal.

Lighting significantly contributes to decarbonization efforts: It is frequently one of the largest consumers of energy in commercial buildings following space heating and ventilation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. By upgrading lighting systems to more energy-efficient alternatives, organizations can effectively reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to overall energy reduction.

While many companies are motivated by their own business or ethical commitments to pursue such forward-looking upgrades, not all of them have the financial means to do so; however, impending legislation will require action. For example, in Washington state, the Clean Buildings Act mandates that commercial buildings larger than 50,000 square feet meet specified energy performance standards by 2026. The primary aim is to curb excessive energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s building sector.

Utilities have stepped up to provide incentives to facilitate this energy transition, many of which directly offset the installation costs of LLLCs. But these financial motivators will not last forever. FMs interested in these upgrades should collaborate with trade allies and utility partners immediately to make a plan. For those who have already gone through the process, they have found that their energy investments not only support their corporate sustainability objectives but also improve their building’s operational efficiency.

LLLC as a solution

LLLC is nearly effortless from the start. With its wireless design, LLLC takes less time to install compared to other setups. Retrofit kits and pre-programmed configurations not only expedite installation timelines but also minimize labor and material expenses while ensuring out-of-the-box code compliance.

FMs who work with electrical distributors or consultants do not need to be hands-on for this step; contractors handle procurement and installation. Once completed, FMs can activate their new lighting solution with a simple tap on their smartphones, essentially “turning the key" on their new products.

From their fingertips, FMs can access real-time lighting information, such as total load, energy consumption and luminaire status. LLLC serves as the backbone of operations, supporting integration and providing end-user data for monitoring maintenance and identifying potential issues. When adjustments are needed, LLLC systems offer flexibility to rezone and reconfigure without wires, ladders or electricians, enabling seamless adaptation to tenant needs and reducing maintenance costs.

This level of insight — previously limited to building automation and control network (BACnet) systems with HVAC — transforms the management of lighting infrastructure, creating an interconnected and efficient ecosystem for both commercial and industrial buildings.

For industrial facilities, LLLC extends to high bay applications in manufacturing plants, integrating with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and motor control centers (MCCs). This allows FMs to link high bay lights to PLCs governing processes, such as robotic operations in food manufacturing. It ensures operational efficiency and serves as a critical alert system to prevent issues like product piling up without human intervention.

On the commercial side, LLLC offers unique flexibility that caters to the specific sensitivities of occupants. Unlike traditional lighting systems, LLLC enables FMs to customize and tailor lighting based on specific areas or applications, whether it is a classroom or a laboratory. This customization can extend to every room in a building, recognizing the uniqueness of each individual space.

Long term, LLLC provides flexibility and a user-friendly design for reconfigurations, serving as an adaptable solution to the evolving needs of any facility where it is installed. An LLLC’s integrated sensors and advanced control methods provide maximum energy savings that compound over the life of the system, saving up to 75 percent in energy usage compared to standard LED fixtures. By embracing LLLCs, FMs have the power in their hands to revolutionize their buildings’ energy efficiencies and realize long-term cost savings.

Key considerations

Creating a responsibly built environment is not something FMs have to do alone, especially with LLLC. Trade allies, utilities and contractors, each with a commitment to sustainability and innovation, are eager to collaborate. By engaging with stakeholders and leveraging available resources, FMs can lay the groundwork for a successful strategy.

Here are some actionable project drivers that can direct FMs toward the right LLLC system for their spaces and needs:

Low install cost

  • Select a wireless controls system to minimize installation costs.

  • Verify that wireless systems have a rated battery life of at least three years.

  • Check with local utilities for incentives that offset installation costs.

Low operating costs

  • Ensure contractors collaborate with building tenants and management to optimize system performance upon installation.

  • Opt for wireless devices that do not require batteries when possible.

Space flexibility

To accommodate space changes and tenant preferences, the controls system should:

  • Address all luminaires at the fixture level.

  • Allow rezoning via an app-based tool without rewiring.

  • Include wireless and surface-mounted wall controllers.

Reliability

  • Implement a controls system that operates on a mesh network and features devices that automatically rejoin networks if they go offline.

  • Ensure the system highlights how wireless signals are routed around materials that might attenuate signal strength, if not on a mesh network.

Cyber security

Select a lighting controls system that:

  • Operates on its own separate network.

  • Is certified or lists appropriate cyber certificates and accreditations.

  • Specifies clearly which system capabilities require a gateway device and which do not.

  • Allows multiple levels of user permission, e.g., tenants, FMs and building owners.

Accessibility

Ensure the lighting controls system offers:

  • Remote (i.e., offsite) access to operating and viewing system performance (gateway required).

  • Auto-generated diagnostics alerts sent to facilities operators.

  • Scheduling override features accessible by multiple user interfaces, e.g., wall controls and mobile apps.

  • Allows multiple levels of user permission, e.g., tenants, facility operators and building owners.

Ease of use

Choose a system that offers:

  • App-based configuration for Android, Apple iOS or both.

  • Programmable scene controllers with one-button touch scenes and manual dim/raise options.

  • Multiple levels of user permission so tenants have access to basic lighting control features, e.g., scenes, light levels and tunable white.

Seize the moment

The future is here with LLLC. Its significant advancements in both technology and cost-effectiveness make it more accessible than ever.

Beyond energy savings, LLLC systems enable smarter facility management through analytics, providing real-time insights into energy consumption, system performance and occupancy trends. This data-driven approach allows for proactive maintenance and optimal resource allocation, offering FMs unprecedented opportunity to better understand and continuously improve their buildings’ efficiencies.

To capitalize on these benefits, FMs must plan to implement these innovations now and position themselves toward the future. This proactive approach not only supports sustainability goals but also enhances operational efficiency, creating a resilient and adaptable infrastructure ready to meet the demands of modern built environments.